Dihydroxy aromatic heterocyclic compound

ABSTRACT

Provided is a compound having a D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitory action, and useful as, for example, a prophylaxis and/or therapeutic agent for schizophrenia or neuropathic pain. The present inventors have studied a compound that inhibits DAAO, and confirm that a dihydroxy aromatic heterocyclic compound has a DAAO inhibitory action, and completed the present invention. That is, the dihydroxy aromatic heterocyclic compound of the present invention has a good DAAO inhibitory action, and can be used as a prophylaxis and/or therapeutic agent for, for example, schizophrenia or neuropathic pain.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dihydroxy aromatic heterocycliccompound useful as an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition,for example, a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseasesassociated with D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO).

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, a relationship between D-serine and psychiatric disease,particularly schizophrenia, has been pointed out. For example, it hasbeen reported that the D-serine concentration is low in both the serumand cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic patients (non-patent document1, non-patent document 2). Moreover, it has been reported that thecombined use of D-serine and existing antipsychotic drugs improvespositive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive function inschizophrenic patients (non-patent document 3).

D-serine is produced from L-serine by serine racemase, and metabolizedby D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO). Since DAAO is widely distributed in thebrain (non-patent document 4), it is expected that the intracerebralD-serine concentration will be increased and the cognitive function willbe improved by inhibiting DAAO.

In addition, DAAO produces, along with the D-serine oxidation, reactiveoxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide, which are toxic metabolites.Reactive oxygen species are known to participate in neuropathic painsuch as hyperalgesia and the like (non-patent document 5). Furthermore,the above-mentioned toxic metabolite may cause neuron injury. Therefore,inhibition of DAAO is considered to be useful for psychiatric diseasesincluding schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, diseases damaging learningand memory such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,Huntingdon's disease and the like, and further, neuropathic pain andneurodegenerative diseases.

Benzoic acid is known as a DAAO inhibitor (non-patent document 6), andit is known that benzoic acid suppresses hyperalgesia, alllodynia, andneuropathic pain (non-patent documents 7, 8), and other DAAO inhibitorssuppress alllodynia in a neuropathic pain model (patent document 1,patent document 2), and learning•memory•dementia (patent document 3).

Some compounds having a DAAO inhibitory action have been reported and,for example, a compound represented by the following formula (A) can bementioned (non-patent document 9).

In addition, a pyrrole carboxylic acid derivative (patent document 1,patent document 2) has been reported to show a DAAO inhibitory action.

DOCUMENT LIST Patent Documents

-   [patent document 1] WO2005/066135-   [patent document 2] WO2008/005456-   [patent document 3] WO2003/039540

Non-Patent Documents

-   [non-patent document 1] Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2003, vol. 60, No. 6,    pages 572-576-   [non-patent document 2] Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and    Biological Psychiatry, 2005, vol. 29, No. 5, pages 767-769-   [non-patent document 3] Biological Psychiatry, 2005, vol. 57, No. 6,    pages 577-585-   [non-patent document 4] Journal of Neurocytology, 1999, vol. 28, No.    3, pages 169-185-   [non-patent document 5] Pain, 2004, vol. 111, Nos. 1, 2, pages    116-124-   [non-patent document 6] Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1956, vol.    223, No. 1, pages 75-83-   [non-patent document 7] Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2008,    vol. 28, No. 4, pages 581-91-   [non-patent document 8] Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental    Therapeutics, 2010, vol. 332, No. 1, pages 248-254-   [non-patent document 9] Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, vol.    52, No. 1, pages 3576-3585

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

A dihydroxy aromatic heterocyclic compound useful as an activeingredient of a pharmaceutical composition, for example, apharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseases associated withD-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is provided.

Means of Solving the Problems

Recently, the FBDD (Fragment-Based Drug Design) method has beenattracting attention as a method for searching inhibitors. The presentinventors have conducted intensive studies using the FBDD method andfound that the compounds of the following formula (I) or a salt thereofhas a good DAAO inhibitory action, and is particularly useful as anactive ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis ortreatment of schizophrenia and neuropathic pain, which resulted in thecompletion of the present invention. Accordingly, the present inventionrelates to a compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof, apharmaceutical composition containing a compound of the formula (I) or asalt thereof, and an excipient, particularly, a pharmaceuticalcomposition for the treatment of diseases involving DAAO, for example,schizophrenia and neuropathic pain.

wherein each symbol shows the following meaning:

X is CR² or N,

Y is CH or N, provided when X is CR², Y is N,Z is CH, provided when both X and Y are N, Z is optionally N,R¹ is H, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, -lower alkylene-OR³, halogen, optionallysubstituted cycloalkyl, -L¹-R⁴ or -L²-N(—R⁵)R⁶,R² is H, lower alkyl, halogen or -lower alkylene-aryl,R³ is H or lower alkyl,L¹ is -lower alkylene-, -lower alkenylene-, -lower alkylene-O—, -loweralkylene-S(O)_(m)— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—,L² is -lower alkylene-, -lower alkylene-S(O)₂— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—,R⁴ is optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl,optionally substituted nonaromatic heterocycle or optionally substitutedaromatic heterocycle,R⁵ is H, lower alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl or optionallysubstituted aryl,R⁶ is lower alkyl, (optionally substituted cycloalkyl), -L²¹ (optionallysubstituted aryl), (optionally substituted nonaromatic heterocycle),(optionally substituted aromatic heterocycle), -lower alkylene-OR⁷ or-lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂,R⁷ is H or lower alkyl,R⁸ are the same or different and each is lower alkyl,L²¹ is a bond or -lower alkylene-, andm is an integer of 0 to 2.

Unless particularly specified, when a symbol in a certain chemicalformula in the present specification is also used in another chemicalformula, the same symbol has the same meaning.

In the formula (I), for example, when L¹ is -lower alkylene-O—, -loweralkylene-S(O)_(m)— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, it means a compound of thefollowing formula (II) or a salt thereof.

wherein L³ is lower alkylene, and M is O, S(O)_(m) or C(O).

In the formula (I), for example, when L² is -lower alkylene-S(O)₂— or-lower alkylene-C(O)—, it means a compound of the following formula(III) or a salt thereof.

wherein Q is S(O)₂ or C(O).

Moreover, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical compositioncontaining a compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof for thetreatment of a diseases involving DAAO, particularly schizophrenia andneuropathic pain. The pharmaceutical composition encompasses atherapeutic agent containing the compound of the formula (I) or a saltthereof for diseases involving DAAO, particularly, a therapeutic agentfor schizophrenia or neuropathic pain.

Moreover, the present invention relates to use of a compound of theformula (I) or a salt thereof for the production of a pharmaceuticalcomposition for the treatment of diseases involving DAAO, particularly,schizophrenia, neuropathic pain, use of a compound of the formula (I) ora salt thereof for the treatment of diseases involving DAAO,particularly, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain, a compound of the formula(I) or a salt thereof for the treatment of diseases involving DAAO,particularly, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain, and a method of treatingdiseases involving DAAO, particularly, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain,comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of theformula (I) or a salt thereof to a target. The “target” is a human orother animal in need of the prophylaxis or treatment thereof and, in acertain embodiment, a human in need of the prophylaxis or treatmentthereof.

Effect of the Invention

The compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof has a DAAO inhibitoryaction, and can be used as, for example, a prophylaxis and/ortherapeutic agent for schizophrenia or neuropathic pain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an improvement action of the test compound Ex.24 on MK-801(dizocilpine)-induced impaired spontaneous alternation performance inmice, wherein Ex. shows the Example No. mentioned later. On thehorizontal axis, N denotes a normal group (physiological saline+ solventadministration), and C shows a solvent group (MK-801+ solventadministration). The spontaneous alternation behavior rate (Alternationrate (%)) on the vertical axis is calculated by the following formulaand becomes an index of cognitive function.

Alternation rate(%)=100×number of spontaneous alternationbehavior/(total number of arm entries-2)

wherein the number of spontaneous alternation behavior shows the numberof different arm entries sustained for three times, for example, A→B→C.In the Table, ## means a significant difference as compared to a normalgroup at a critical rate of less than 1% as a result of Student'st-test. In the Table, ** means a significant difference as compared to asolvent group at a critical rate of less than 1% as a result ofDunnett's multiple comparison test. n=8 means that 8 mice were in eachgroup.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is explained in detail in the following.

In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, “alkyl”,“alkylene”, “alkenylene” and “alkynylene” mean straight chain orbranched hydrocarbon chain.

The “lower alkyl” is straight chain or branched alkyl having a carbonnumber of 1 to 6 (hereinafter to be abbreviated as C₁₋₆), for example,methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl,tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl or the like. It is C₁₋₄ alkyl in anotherembodiment, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl in a still another embodiment, andmethyl in a yet another embodiment.

The “lower alkylene” is straight chain or branched C₁₋₅ alkylene, forexample, methylene, ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene,pentamethylene, hexamethylene, propylene, butylene, methylmethylene,ethylethylene, 1,2-dimethylethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene,1-methylbutylene or the like. It is C₁₋₄ alkylene in another embodiment,methylene, ethylene, or propylene in a still another embodiment,methylene in a still another embodiment, ethylene in a still anotherembodiment, and propylene in a yet another embodiment.

The “lower alkenylene” is straight chain or branched C₂₋₅ alkenylene,for example, vinylene, propenylene, butenylene, pentenylene, hexenylene,1,3-butadienylene, 1,3-pentadienylene or the like. It is C₂₋₄ alkenylenein another embodiment, and vinylene in a yet another embodiment.

The “lower alkynylene” is straight chain or branched C₂₋₆ alkynylene,for example, ethynylene, propynylene, butynylene, pentynylene,hexynylene, 1,3-butadiynylene, 1,3-pentadiynylene or the like. It isC₂₋₄ alkynylene in another embodiment, and ethynylene in a yet anotherembodiment.

The “halogen” is F, Cl, Br or I. It is F or Cl in another embodiment,and F in a yet another embodiment.

The “cycloalkyl” is a C₃₋₁₀ saturated hydrocarbon ring group. Thecycloalkyl may have bridged, may have some unsaturated bonds, and may befused with a benzene ring. Specific examples include cyclopropyl,cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, adamantyl,bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl, 2,3-dihydro-1H-indanyl,1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenyl, indanyl, a fluorenyl group and the like.In another embodiment, it is cyclohexyl.

The “aryl” is a C₆₋₁₄ monocyclic to tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ringgroup. Specific examples include phenyl, naphthyl, anthranyl and thelike. It is phenyl in another embodiment, and naphthyl in a yet anotherembodiment.

The “aromatic heterocycle” is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclicgroup containing one or more hetero atoms selected from O, N and S asring-constituting atoms, and the aromatic heterocycle may be fused withcycloalkyl, aryl or a monocyclic aromatic heterocycle. Specific examplesinclude pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, thienyl, thiazolyl,isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl,pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, indazolyl, quinolyl,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl,quinoxalinyl, 1,8-a-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridyl and the like. Inanother embodiment, it is imidazolyl, pyridyl, benzimidazolyl orquinolyl.

The “nonaromatic heterocycle” is a 3- to 7-membered nonaromaticheterocyclic group containing one or more hetero atoms selected from O,N and, S as ring-constituting atoms, and the nonaromatic heterocycle maybe fused with cycloalkyl, aryl, monocyclic aromatic heterocycle ormonocyclic nonaromatic heterocycle, may have a partially unsaturatedbond, and may form a spiro ring with cycloalkyl or a nonaromaticheterocycle. In addition, the sulfur atom, which is a ring-constitutingatom, may be oxidized. Specific examples include azetidinyl,pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, piperazinyl,morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxidothiomorpholinyl,tetrahydropyranyl, azepanyl, diazepanyl, indolinyl,2,3-dihydrobenzoimidazolyl, octahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazinyl,1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolinyl, benzodioxolyl,2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxinyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl,1,3-dihydro-spiro[2H-indene-2,4′-piperidinyl], 2-azaspiro[5.5]undecanyl,3,4-dihydro-spiro[naphthalene-1(2H),3′-piperidinyl],3,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecanyl, 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl,carbazolyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,7-naphthyridinyl,2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridyl,6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl,4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridyl and the like. In anotherembodiment, it is pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, or piperazinyl.

The “cyclic amino” is the above-mentioned “nonaromatic heterocycle”having a nitrogen atom, and is a nonaromatic heterocycle having a bondon the nitrogen atom. Examples thereof include azetidin-1-yl,pyrazolidin-1-yl, imidazolidin-1-yl, 1,4-diazepan-1-yl, pyrrolidin-1-yl,piperidin-1-yl, azepan-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl,thiomorpholin-4-yl, 1,1-dioxidothiomorpholin-4-yl and the like. It ispyrrolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, azepan-1-yl, piperazin-1-yl,morpholin-4-yl, thiomorpholin-4-yl or 1,1-dioxidothiomorpholin-4-yl inanother embodiment, pyrrolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl or1,1-dioxidothiomorpholin-4-yl in a still another embodiment, 6-memberedmonocyclic cyclic amino in a still another embodiment, andpiperidin-1-yl, morpholin-4-yl, or 1,1-dioxidothiomorpholin-4-yl in ayet another embodiment.

In the present specification, “optionally substituted” means beingunsubstituted or having 1 to 5 substituents. It means unsubstituted orhaving 1 to 3 substituents in one embodiment, unsubstituted or havingone substituent in another embodiment, and unsubstituted in a stillanother embodiment. When plural substituents are present, the respectivesubstituents may be the same or different.

Examples of the substituent of the “optionally substituted cycloalkyl”for R¹, “optionally substituted cycloalkyl”, “optionally substitutedaryl”, “optionally substituted nonaromatic heterocycle” and “optionallysubstituted aromatic heterocycle” for R⁴, “optionally substitutedcycloalkyl” and “optionally substituted aryl” for R⁵ and “optionallysubstituted cycloalkyl”, “optionally substituted aryl”, “optionallysubstituted nonaromatic heterocycle” and “optionally substitutedaromatic heterocycle” for R⁶ of the formula (I) include substituentsselected from the group consisting of group D1.

Group D1

(1) halogen,

(2) —OH,

(3) aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of halogen, —O-lower alkyl, lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens and —CN; —O-(aryloptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, lower alkyl optionally substituted by oneor more halogens, —O-lower alkyl and —C(O)O-lower alkyl); —C(O)-(aryloptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of lower alkyl, —O-lower alkyl and halogen); and—C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl,(4) —O-lower alkyl,(5) aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and aryl;—O-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen); and —C(O)-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by oneor more substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyland halogen),(6) nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of —OH, lower alkyl andoxo; —O-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen); and —C(O)-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of loweralkyl and halogen),(7) —NH₂, —NH(lower alkyl) and —N(lower alkyl)₂,(8) cycloalkyl and —C(O)-cycloalkyl,(9) —C(O)O-lower alkyl,(10) —C(O)-lower alkyl,(11) —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl,(12) —S(O)_(m)-lower alkyl, —S(O)_(m)-nonaromatic heterocycle,—S(O)_(m)-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or morelower alkyl) and —S(O)_(m)-(aryl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen),(13) —O—C(O)-lower alkyl,(14) —C(O)—NH-aromatic heterocycle,(15) -lower alkenylene-C(O)O-aryl,

(16) —NH-cycloalkyl,

(17) -lower alkenylene-C(O)O-alkyl, and(18) lower alkyl and —O-lower alkyl, wherein the lower alkyl moiety isoptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of the substituents described in the above-mentioned(1)-(17), and(19) oxo.

Another embodiment of group D1 includes

(1) halogen,

(2) —OH,

(3) aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of halogen, —O-lower alkyl and —CN; —O-(aryloptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, lower alkyl optionally substituted by oneor more halogens, —O-lower alkyl and —C(O)O-lower alkyl); —C(O)-(aryloptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of —O-lower alkyl and halogen) and —C(O)-loweralkenylene-aryl,(4) —O-lower alkyl and —O-(lower alkyl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of aryl substitutedby one or more halogens and halogen),(5) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of halogen, —OH, —N(lower alkyl)₂,—O-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, —O-aryl, aromatic heterocycle,nonaromatic heterocycle and —C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle,(6) nonaromatic heterocycle, —O-nonaromatic heterocycle and—C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle,(7) aromatic heterocycle, —O-aromatic heterocycle and —C(O)-aromaticheterocycle,(8) —C(O)O-lower alkyl,(9) —C(O)-lower alkyl,(10) cycloalkyl and —C(O)-cycloalkyl,(11) —N(lower alkyl)₂,(12) —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl,(13) —S-lower alkyl, —S(O)₂-lower alkyl, —S(O)₂-nonaromatic heterocycle,—S(O)₂-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or more loweralkyl), —S(O)₂-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and halogen),(14) —O—C(O)-lower alkyl,(15) —C(O)—NH-aromatic heterocycle,

(16) —NH-cycloalkyl, and

(17) oxo.

A still another embodiment of group D1 includes

(1) halogen,(2) aryl,(3) —O-(lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens), and(4) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens.

A yet another embodiment of group D1 includes

(1) halogen,(2) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens, and(3) aryl.

Another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted cycloalkyl” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of halogen, —OH and —O-lower alkyl,(2) halogen,

(3) —OH,

(4) aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —OH, —O-lower alkyland C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, and(5) oxo.

A still another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the“optionally substituted cycloalkyl” in the formula (I) is aryl.

Another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted aryl” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl and —O-lower alkyl, wherein the lower alkyl moiety isoptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, —OH, —O-lower alkyl, aryl and —O-aryl,(2) halogen,

(3) —OH,

(4) cycloalkyl and —O-cycloalkyl, wherein the cycloalkyl moiety isoptionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl,(5) cyano,(6) aryl, —O-aryl, —C(O)-aryl and —C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl, whereinthe aryl moiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —OH,—O-lower alkyl, —O-(lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens) andlower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens,(7) heterocycle and —O-aromatic heterocycle, wherein the aromaticheterocycle moiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and halogen,(8) nonaromatic heterocycle and —O-nonaromatic heterocycle, wherein thenonaromatic heterocycle moiety is optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen,(9) —C(O)-lower alkyl, —C(O)O-lower alkyl, —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl and-lower alkenylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl, wherein the lower alkyl moiety isoptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen and —OH,(10) —NH₂, —NHR⁸ and —N(R⁸)₂,(11) —S-lower alkyl, —S(O)-lower alkyl and —S(O)₂-lower alkyl, and(12) —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted aryl” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of —OH, —O-lower alkyl, halogen, aryland —O-aryl,(2) halogen,(3) —O-(lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of halogen and —OH),(4) aryl optionally substituted by one or more halogens,(5) —O-(aryl optionally substituted by lower alkyl optionallysubstituted by one or more halogens),(6) —C(O)-aryl,(7) —C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl,(8) —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl,(9) aromatic heterocycle,(10) nonaromatic heterocycle,(11) —C(O)-lower alkyl,(12) —S-lower alkyl and —S(O)₂-lower alkyl,(13) -lower alkenylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl,(14) cycloalkyl,(15) —O-nonaromatic heterocycle, and(16) —C(O)O-lower alkyl.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted aryl” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens,(2) halogen, and(3) aryl.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted aromatic heterocycle” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl and —O-lower alkyl, wherein the lower alkyl moiety isoptionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, —OH and —O-lower alkyl,(2) halogen,(3) aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —OH, —O-lower alkyl,—O-(lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens) and lower alkylsubstituted by one or more halogens,(4) nonaromatic heterocycle and —O-nonaromatic heterocycle, wherein thenonaromatic heterocycle moiety is optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen, and(5) oxo.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted aromatic heterocycle” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens,(2) halogen,(3) —O-lower alkyl,(4) —O-nonaromatic heterocycle, and(5) aryl.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted nonaromatic heterocycle” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl and -L²¹-O-lower alkyl, wherein the lower alkyl moietyis optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from thegroup consisting of halogen, —OH, —O-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl (thearyl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected fromthe group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkyl substituted byone or more halogens and —O-lower alkyl), —O-aryl (the aryl moiety of—O-aryl is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkylsubstituted by one or more halogens and —O-lower alkyl), aromaticheterocycle (the aromatic heterocycle is optionally substituted by oneor more lower alkyl), nonaromatic heterocycle (the nonaromaticheterocycle is is optionally substituted by oxo), —C(O)-aromaticheterocycle, —C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle and —N(lower alkyl)₂,(2) halogen,

(3) —OH,

(4) cycloalkyl, —O-cycloalkyl, —NH-cycloalkyl and —C(O)— cycloalkyl,wherein the cycloalkyl moiety is optionally substituted by one or morelower alkyl,(5) -L²¹-aryl, —O-aryl, —C(O)-aryl and —S(O)_(m)-aryl, wherein the arylmoiety is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —O-lower alkyl,—C(O)O-lower alkyl and —CN,(6) aromatic heterocycle, —O-aromatic heterocycle, —C(O)-aromaticheterocycle, —C(O)NH-aromatic heterocycle and —S(O)_(m)-aromaticheterocycle, wherein the aromatic heterocycle moiety is optionallysubstituted by one or more substituents selected from the groupconsisting of lower alkyl, aryl, halogen and —OH,(7) nonaromatic heterocycle, —O-nonaromatic heterocycle,—C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle and —S(O)_(m)-nonaromatic heterocycle,wherein the nonaromatic heterocycle moiety is optionally substituted byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of loweralkyl, halogen, —OH, —O-lower alkyl and oxo,

-   -   (8) —C(O)O-lower alkyl, —OC(O)-lower alkyl, —S(O)₂-lower alkyl        and —N(lower alkyl)₂, wherein the lower alkyl moiety is        optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from        the group consisting of halogen and —OH, and        (9) oxo.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted nonaromatic heterocycle” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl, optionally substituted one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of aryl optionally substituted by oneor more substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens, halogen and —O-loweralkyl, —O-aryl, aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one ormore lower alkyl, nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by oxo,—C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle, cycloalkyl, —O-lower alkyl and —N(loweralkyl)₂,(2) —O-(lower alkyl optionally substituted by aryl optionallysubstituted by one or more halogens),(3) halogen,

(4) —OH,

(5) aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of —CN and —O-lower alkyl,(6) —O-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —O-lower alkyl and—C(O)O-lower alkyl),(7) —C(O)-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of —O-lower alkyl and halogen),(8) —S(O)₂-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and halogen),(9) nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, —OH andoxo,(10) —O-nonaromatic heterocycle,(11) —C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle,(12) —S(O)₂-nonaromatic heterocycle,(13) aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or more aryl,(14) —O-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen),(15) —C(O)-aromatic heterocycle,(16) —S(O)₂-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or morelower alkyl),(17) —C(O)—NH-aromatic heterocycle,(18) cycloalkyl,(19) —C(O)-cycloalkyl,

(20) —NH-cycloalkyl,

(21) oxo,(22) —S(O)₂-lower alkyl,(23) —C(O)O-lower alkyl,(24) —O—C(O)O-lower alkyl,(25) —O—C(O)-lower alkyl, and(26) —N(lower alkyl)₂.

A yet another embodiment of an acceptable substituent of the “optionallysubstituted nonaromatic heterocycle” in the formula (I) includes

(1) lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of halogen and —O-lower alkyl,—S(O)₂-lower alkyl, —C(O)O-lower alkyl and —O—C(O)-lower alkyl,(2) aryl optionally substituted by one or more —CNs, -loweralkylene-O-aryl, -lower alkylene-(aryl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens, halogen and —O-loweralkyl), —C(O)-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of —O-lower alkyl and halogen),—O-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen, —O-lower alkyl and—C(O)—O-lower alkyl), —O-lower alkylene-(aryl optionally substituted byone or more halogens) and —S(O)₂-(aryl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen andlower alkyl),(3) nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of oxo, —OH and loweralkyl, —S(O)₂-nonaromatic heterocycle, —C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle,-lower alkylene-C(O)-nonaromatic heterocycle and -loweralkylene-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moreoxo),(4) aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or more aryl,—O-(aromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl andhalogen), —C(O)-aromatic heterocycle, —S(O)₂-(aromatic heterocycleoptionally substituted by one or more lower alkyl), —C(O)—NH-aromaticheterocycle and -lower alkylene-(aromatic heterocycle optionallysubstituted by one or more lower alkyl),(5) cycloalkyl, -lower alkylene-cycloalkyl, —C(O)-cycloalkyl and—NH-cycloalkyl,(6) -lower alkylene-N(lower alkyl)₂,(7) oxo, and(8) —N(lower alkyl)₂.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are shown below.

(1) In one embodiment of X, Y and Z, Z is CH, in another embodiment, Xis CH, Y is N and Z is CH and, in still another embodiment, X is N, Y isN and Z is CH.(2) In one embodiment of R¹, R¹ is -L¹-R⁴, in another embodiment, R¹ isC₁₋₁₀ alkyl, -lower alkylene-OR³, halogen, optionally substitutedcycloalkyl or -lower alkylene-(optionally substituted cycloalkyl), inanother embodiment, R¹ is -L¹-(aryl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl,halogen, lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens, —O-loweralkyl, —O-lower alkylene-OH, —O-(lower alkyl substituted by one or morehalogens), —S(O)_(m)-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substitutedaryl, -lower alkylene-aryl, —O-aryl, aromatic heterocycle, nonaromaticheterocycle, —C(O)-lower alkyl, —C(O)-aryl, —C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl,—NH—C(O)-lower alkyl and -lower alkenylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl), in stillanother embodiment, R¹ is -L¹-(aryl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, loweralkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens, —O-(lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens) and aryl), in stillanother embodiment, R¹ is -L¹-(aryl optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens, halogen and aryl), instill another embodiment, R¹ is -L¹-optionally substituted cycloalkyl,in still another embodiment, R¹ is -lower alkylene-C(O)-(nonaromaticheterocycle optionally substituted by one or more substituents selectedfrom the group consisting of lower alkyl, —N(lower alkyl)₂, -loweralkylene-phenyl, -lower alkylene-O-lower alkyl, -lower alkylene-O-phenyland morpholinyl group), in still another embodiment, R¹ is -loweralkylene-(optionally substituted aromatic heterocycle), in still anotherembodiment, R¹ is -L²-N(—R⁵)R⁶, in still another embodiment, R¹ is-lower alkylene-(phenyl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, halogen,lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens, —O-lower alkyl,—O-(lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens) and optionallysubstituted aryl), in still another embodiment, R¹ is -loweralkylene-(phenyl optionally substituted by one or more substituentsselected from the group consisting of lower alkyl optionally substitutedby one or more halogens, halogen and aryl) and, in still anotherembodiment, R¹ is -lower alkylene-O-(phenyl optionally substituted byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of loweralkyl, halogen, lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens,—O-lower alkyl, —O-(lower alkyl substituted by one or more halogens),cycloalkyl, -L²¹-phenyl, —O-optionally substituted aryl, —C(O)-loweralkyl, —C(O)-phenyl, —C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl, -loweralkenylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl, —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl, —S(O)₂-lower alkyl,piperidyl group and quinolinyl group).(3) In one embodiment of R², R² is H or lower alkyl and, in anotherembodiment, R² is H.(4) In one embodiment of R³, R³ is lower alkyl and, in anotherembodiment, R³ is H.(5) In one embodiment of R⁴, R⁴ is optionally substituted cycloalkyl oroptionally substituted aryl, in another embodiment, R⁴ is cycloalkyl oraryl, each of which is optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of group D1, in anotherembodiment, R⁴ is aryl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of group D1, in stillanother embodiment, cycloalkyl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of group D1, in stillanother embodiment, R⁴ is aryl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens, —O-(lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens) and aryl and, in stillanother embodiment, R⁴ is aryl optionally substituted by one or moresubstituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyloptionally substituted by one or more halogens, halogen and aryl.(6) In one embodiment of R⁵, R⁵ is H or lower alkyl, in anotherembodiment, R⁵ is H and, in still another embodiment, R⁵ is lower alkyl.(7) In one embodiment of R⁶, R⁶ is -lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂, -loweralkylene-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more nonaromaticheterocycles), -lower alkylene-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionallysubstituted by one or more lower alkyl), -lower alkylene-aromaticheterocycle, in another embodiment, R⁶ is -lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂, instill another embodiment, R⁶ is -lower alkylene-(aryl optionallysubstituted by one or more nonaromatic heterocycles), in still anotherembodiment, R⁶ is -lower alkylene-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionallysubstituted by one or more lower alkyl) and, in still anotherembodiment, R⁶ is -lower alkylene-aromatic heterocycle.(8) One embodiment of R⁷ is H.(9) In one embodiment of R⁸, each R⁸ is methyl.(10) In one embodiment of L¹, L¹ is -lower alkylene-, -loweralkylene-O—, -lower alkylene-S— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, in anotherembodiment, L¹ is -lower alkylene-, -lower alkylene-O— or -loweralkylene-S—, in still another embodiment, L¹ is -lower alkylene-, instill another embodiment, L¹ is -lower alkylene-O—, in still anotherembodiment, L¹ is methylene or ethylene and, in still anotherembodiment, L¹ is ethylene.(11) In one embodiment of L², L² is -lower alkylene- or -loweralkylene-C(O)—, in another embodiment, L² is -lower alkylene-, in stillanother embodiment, L² is -lower alkylene-C(O)—, in still anotherembodiment, L² is methylene or ethylene and, in still anotherembodiment, L² is ethylene.(12) In one embodiment of L²¹, L²¹ is -lower alkylene-.(13) A compound which is a combination of two or more groups describedin the above-mentioned (1)-(12) or a salt thereof.

As described in the above-mentioned (13), the present inventionencompasses a compound which is a combination of two or more groupsdescribed in the above-mentioned (1)-(12) or a salt thereof. Concreteexamples thereof also include the following embodiments.

(14) A compound wherein Z is CH, and R¹ is C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, -loweralkylene-OR³, halogen, optionally substituted cycloalkyl or -loweralkylene-optionally substituted cycloalkyl, or a salt thereof.(15) A compound wherein Z is CH, and R¹ is -L¹-(aryl optionallysubstituted by one or more substituents selected from the groupconsisting of lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkyl substituted by one ormore halogens, —O-lower alkyl, —O-lower alkylene-OH, —O-(lower alkylsubstituted by one or more halogens), —S(O)_(m)-lower alkyl, cycloalkyl,optionally substituted aryl, -lower alkylene-aryl, —O-aryl, aromaticheterocycle, nonaromatic heterocycle, —C(O)-lower alkyl, —C(O)-aryl,—C(O)-lower alkenylene-aryl, —NH—C(O)-lower alkyl and -loweralkenylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl), or a salt thereof.(16) A compound wherein Z is CH, and R¹ is -loweralkylene-C(O)-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionally substituted by one ormore substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl,—N(lower alkyl)₂, -lower alkylene-phenyl, -lower alkylene-O-lower alkyl,-lower alkylene-O-phenyl and a morpholinyl group), or a salt thereof.(17) A compound wherein Z is CH, and R¹ is -lower alkylene-(optionallysubstituted aromatic heterocycle), or a salt thereof.(18) A compound wherein X is N, Y is N, Z is CH, R¹ is -L¹-R⁴, L¹ is-lower alkylene-, -lower alkylene-O— or -lower alkylene-S—, and R⁴ isoptionally substituted cycloalkyl or optionally substituted aryl, or asalt thereof.(19) The compound of (18), wherein R⁴ is aryl optionally substituted byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen,lower alkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens, —O-(loweralkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens) and aryl, or asalt thereof.(20) The compound of (19), wherein R⁴ is aryl optionally substituted byone or more substituents selected from the group consisting of loweralkyl optionally substituted by one or more halogens, halogen and aryl,or a salt thereof.(21) The compound of (20), wherein L¹ is -lower alkylene, or a saltthereof.(22) A compound wherein Z is CH, and R¹ is L²-N(—R⁵)R⁶, or a saltthereof.(23) The compound of (14), wherein R³ is lower alkyl, or a salt thereof.(24) The compound of (22), wherein R⁵ is H or lower alkyl, or a saltthereof.(25) The compound of (22) or (24), wherein R⁶ is -lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂,-lower alkylene-(aryl optionally substituted by one or more nonaromaticheterocycles), -lower alkylene-(nonaromatic heterocycle optionallysubstituted by one or more lower alkyl) or -lower alkylene-aromaticheterocycle, or a salt thereof.(26) The compound of (25), wherein each R⁸ is methyl, or a salt thereof.(27) The compound of (15), wherein L¹ is -lower alkylene-, -loweralkylene-O—, -lower alkylene-S— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, or a saltthereof.(28) The compound of (22), wherein L² is -lower alkylene- or -loweralkylene-C(O)—, or a salt thereof.

Specific examples of the compound encompassed in the compound of theformula (I) or a salt thereof include the following.

-   4-hydroxy-6-{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethyl}pyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   4-hydroxy-6-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethyl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   6-[2-(biphenyl-4-yl)ethyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   4-hydroxy-6-{2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethyl}pyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   6-[2-(3-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   4-hydroxy-6-[2-(3-methylphenyl)ethyl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   6-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   4-hydroxy-6-[2-(2-methylphenyl)ethyl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   6-[2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one,-   6-(2-cyclohexylethyl)-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one, and-   4-hydroxy-6-[2-(1-naphthyl)ethyl]pyridazin-3(2H)-one,    or a salt thereof.

The compound of the formula (I) may contain tautomer and geometricisomer depending on the kind of the substituent. In the presentspecification, the compound of the formula (I) may be described only oneform of isomer. However, the present invention encompasses other isomersand also encompasses separated isomers and a mixture thereof.

Moreover, the compound of the formula (I) may have asymmetric carbonatom and axial chirality, and optical isomers may be present basedthereon. The present invention also encompasses separated opticalisomers of the compound of the formula (I) and a mixture thereof.

Moreover, the compound of the formula (I) may have a plurality ofresonance structures. While the present invention describes one of them,the resonance structure is not limited thereto. The resonance structuralformulas (Ex. 1-1-Ex. 1-3) of Example 1 (Ex. 1) are shown below asexamples. Ex. shows the Example No. mentioned later.

Furthermore, the present invention includes pharmacologically acceptableprodrugs of the compound represented by the formula (I). Thepharmacologically acceptable prodrug is a compound having a groupconvertible to an amino group, a hydroxy group, a carboxyl group and thelike by solvolysis or under physiological conditions. Examples of thegroup forming a prodrug include the groups described in Prog, Med., 5,2157-2161 (1985) and “Development of Pharmaceutical Product” (HirokawaShoten, 1990) Vol. 7, Molecule Design, pp. 163-198.

A salt of the compound of the formula (I) is a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of the compound of the formula (I), which may form anacid addition salt or a salt with a base depending on the kind of thesubstituent. Specific examples thereof include acid addition salts withinorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodicacid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid and the like, andorganic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalicacid, malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, lacticacid, malic acid, mandelic acid, tartaric acid, dibenzoyltartaric acid,ditoluoyltartaric acid, citric acid, methanesulfonic acid,ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid,aspartic acid, glutamic acid and the like; salts with inorganic basessuch as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum and the like,and organic bases such as methylamine, ethylamine, ethanolamine, lysine,ornithine and the like; salts with various amino acids such asacetylleucine and the like, and amino acid derivative; ammonium salt andthe like.

Furthermore, the present invention also encompasses various hydrates andsolvates, and substances having crystal polymorphism of the compound ofthe formula (I) or a salt thereof. In addition, the present inventionalso encompasses compounds labeled with various radioactive ornon-radioactive isotopes.

(Production Method)

The compound of the formula (I) and a salt thereof can be produced byapplying various known synthesis methods, while utilizingcharacteristics based on the basic structure and the kind of thesubstituents thereof. In such procedures, it is sometimes technicallyeffective, depending on the kind of functional group, to replace thefunctional group with a suitable protecting group (a group readilyconvertible to the functional group) during a step of converting thestarting material into an intermediate. Examples of such protectinggroup include the protecting groups described in P. G. M. Wuts and T. W.Greene, “Greene's Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” (4th Ed. 2006)and the like, and it may be selected as appropriate according to thereaction conditions thereof. In such processes, a desired compound canbe obtained by performing a reaction after introducing the protectinggroup, and thereafter eliminating the protecting group as necessary.

A prodrug of the compound of the formula (I) can be produced by, in thesame manner as in the above-mentioned protecting groups, introduction ofa particular group during the stage of from a starting material to anintermediate, or further reaction of the obtained compound of theformula (I). The reaction can be performed by applying a method known tothose of ordinary skill in the art such as conventional esterification,amidation, dehydration and the like.

The representative production methods of the compound of the formula (I)are explained below. Each production method can also be performed byreference to reference documents attached to the explanation. Theproduction method of each invention is not limited to the examples shownbelow.

(First Production Method)

wherein R^(a) are the same or different and each is H, a protectinggroup such as a benzyl group, a paramethoxybenzyl group, a methoxymethylgroup, a methyl group and the like, R¹ is C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, -loweralkynylene-OR³, optionally substituted cycloalkenyl, -loweralkenylene-R⁴, -lower alkenylene-C(O)—R⁴, -lower alkenylene-N(—R⁵) R⁶ or-lower alkenylene-C(O)—N(—R⁵)R⁶, R^(1″) is C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, -loweralkylene-OR³, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, -lower alkylene-R⁴,-lower alkenylene-R⁴, -lower alkylene-C(O)—R⁴, -lower alkylene-N(—R⁵)R⁶or -lower alkylene-C(O)—N(—R⁵)R⁶, provided both R^(a) are not H at thesame time.

In this production method, compound 1a is deprotected to producecompound (I-1) of the present invention, which is the compound (I) ofthe present invention, wherein 1e is C₁₋₁₀alkyl, -lower alkylene-OR³,optionally substituted cycloalkyl, -lower alkylene-R⁴, -loweralkenylene-R⁴, -lower alkylene-C(O)—R⁴, -lower alkylene-N(—R⁵)R⁶ or-lower alkylene-C(O)—N(—R⁵)R⁶.

In this step, for example, when R^(a) is a benzyl group or aparamethoxybenzyl group, compound 1a and a metal catalyst are used inequivalent amounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixturethereof is stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere in a solvent inert to thereaction generally for 1 hr-5 days. This reaction is generally performedfrom under cooling to under heating, preferably at room temperature.While the solvent used here is not particularly limited, examplesthereof include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and thelike, ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane,dimethoxyethane and the like, water, ethyl acetate,N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and a mixture thereof. As themetal catalyst, palladium catalysts such as palladium carbon, palladiumblack, palladium hydroxide, palladium-barium sulfate and the like,platinum catalysts such as platinum plate, platinum oxide and the like,nickel catalysts such as reduced nickel, Raney-nickel and the like,rhodium catalysts such as tristriphenylphosphinechlororhodium and thelike, iron catalysts such as reduced iron, etc. and the like arepreferably used. Instead of hydrogen gas, formic acid or ammoniumformate in an equivalent amount—excess amount relative to compound 1acan also be used as a hydrogen source.

When R^(1′) of compound 1a is -lower alkynylene-OR³, optionallysubstituted cycloalkenyl, -lower alkenylene-R⁴, -loweralkenylene-C(O)—R⁴, -lower alkenylene-N(—R⁵)R⁶ or -loweralkenylene-C(O)—N(—R⁵)R⁶, the alkynylene moiety, alkenylene moiety, andunsaturated moiety of cycloalkenyl can be reduced simultaneously withthe above-mentioned deprotection.

Besides the above-mentioned method, under acidic conditions, compound 1aand thioanisole are used in equivalent amounts or one of them in anexcess amount, and compound 1a can be deprotected in a solvent inert tothe reaction, from under cooling to under heating, preferably at roomtemperature. While the solvent used here is not particularly limited, itcan be performed using halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane,chloroform, etc. and the like, or without solvent. In addition, acidicconditions can be produced with trifluoroacetic acid and the like.

In addition, compound 1a and boron tribromide are used in equivalentamounts or one of them in an excess amount, and compound 1a can bedeprotected in a solvent inert to the reaction, from under cooling tounder heating, preferably at room temperature. While the solvent usedhere is not particularly limited, examples thereof include halogenatedhydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform, etc. and the like.

[documents]

M. Hudlicky, “Reductions in Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed (ACS Monograph:188)”, ACS, 1996

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th Ed.)” vol.19 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Second Production Method)

wherein B is an optionally substituted cyclic amino group.

In this production method, the compound (I-2) or (I-3) of the presentinvention, which is the compound (I) of the present invention wherein R¹is -lower alkylene-C(O)—N(—R⁵)R⁶ or -lower alkylene-C(O)-(optionallysubstituted cyclic amino) is produced.

In this step, the compound (I-2) or (I-3) of the present invention isobtained by amidation of compound 1b and compound 1c or 1d.

In this step, compound 1b and compound 1c or 1d are used in equivalentamounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixture thereof isstirred in the presence of a condensing agent in a solvent inert to thereaction, from under cooling to under heating preferably at −20° C. to60° C. generally for 0.1 hr to 7 days. While the solvent used here isnot particularly limited, examples thereof include aromatic hydrocarbonssuch as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, halogenated hydrocarbonssuch as dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and the like,ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethaneand the like, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate,acetonitrile, water, and a mixture thereof. Examples of the condensingagent include, but are not limited to,1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide,1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole, diphenylphosphoryl azide, phosphorusoxychloride, polystyrene resin carrying a condensing agent (e.g.,PS-carbodiimide). It is sometimes preferable to use an additive (forexample, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole) for the reaction. It is sometimesadvantageous to perform the reaction in the presence of an organic basesuch as triethylamine, N,N-diisopropylethylamine, N-methylmorpholine andthe like, or an inorganic base such as potassium carbonate, sodiumcarbonate, potassium hydroxide and the like to smoothly carry out thereaction.

It is also possible to use a method involving converting the carboxylgroup moiety of compound 1b to a reactive derivative and then reactingsame with compound 1c or 1d. Examples of the reactive derivative ofcarboxylic acid include acid halides obtained by a reaction with ahalogenating agent such as phosphorus oxychloride, thionyl chloride andthe like, mixed acid anhydrides obtained by a reaction with isobutylchloroformate and the like, active esters obtained by a condensationreaction with 1-hydroxybenzotriazole, etc. and the like. These reactivederivatives can be reacted with compound 1c or 1d in a solvent inert tothe reaction such as halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons,ethers and the like, from under cooling to under heating, preferably at-20° C. to 60° C.

[documents]

S. R. Sandler and W. Karo, “Organic Functional Group Preparations”, 2ndedition, vol. 1, Academic Press Inc., 1991

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th ed.)” vol.16 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Third Production Method)

wherein R^(b1) is a chloro group or a bromo group, and R^(b2) ishalogen, provided when R^(b2) is a chloro group, R^(b1) is a bromogroup.

In this production method, the compound (I-4) of the present invention,which is the compound (I) of the present invention wherein X isC-halogen, Y is N, Z is CH and R¹ is a chloro group or a bromo group, isproduced.

In this step, the compound (I-4) of the present invention is obtained byhalogenation of compound 1e.

In this step, compound 1e and a halogenating agent are used inequivalent amounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixturethereof is stirred in a solvent inert to the reaction, from roomtemperature to under heating, preferably at room temperature generallyfor 0.1 hr to 5 days. The halogenating agent may be any as long as it isa halogenating agent generally used for halogen substitution reaction ofhydrogen on the aromatic ring, and halogen elements such as chlorine,bromine and the like, perbromides such as dioxane dibromide,phenyltrimethylammonium tribromide, pyridinium hydrobromide perbromide,pyrrolidone hydrotribromide, etc. and the like are preferably used. Itis also possible to use imide halogenating agents such asN-bromosuccinimide, N-chlorosuccinimide and the like, halogenatedhydrogens such as hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide and the like, ametal reagent, for example, copper (II) halides such as copper (II)bromide, copper (II) chloride and the like and the like.

When a halogen element or perbromide is used as a halogenating agent,compound 1e may be reacted with a halogenating agent in an organicsolvent inert to the reaction, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons,ethers, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, ethylene glycoland the like, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters such as ethyl acetate andthe like, acetic acid, N,N-dimethylformamide and the like. Wherenecessary, the reaction may be performed in the presence of a smallamount of a catalyst such as halogenated hydrogen and the like, at apreferable reaction temperature of −30° C. to the refluxing temperatureof the solvent to be used.

When halogenated hydrogen is used as a halogenating agent, the compound(1e) may be reacted with halogenated hydrogen in an acidic solutionthereof or a basic solution such as aqueous sodium hydroxide solutionand the like, at a preferable reaction temperature of −30° C. to therefluxing temperature of the solvent to be used.

In addition, a reaction using a metal reagent is advantageouslyperformed generally by dissolving compound 1e in an organic solventinert to the reaction such as halogenated hydrocarbons, ethers,alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, acetic acid, esters and the like, wateror a mixed solvent thereof and reacting same with a reagent and, wherenecessary, in the presence of a small amount of a catalyst such ashalogenated hydrogen and the like at room temperature—under heating.

(Fourth Production Method)

wherein T is —O— or —S—, and R^(d) is lower alkyl.

In this production method, the compound (I-5) or (I-6) of the presentinvention, which is the compound (I) of the present invention wherein R¹is —CH₂—O—R⁴, —CH₂—S—R⁴, —CH₂—N(—R⁵)R⁶, is produced.

(First Step)

In this step, carbon monoxide is inserted into the R^(b) moiety ofcompound 1f, and then compound 1g in an ester form is synthesized byreacting with lower alcohol in the system.

In this step, a mixture of compound 1f, an equivalent or excess amountof carbon monoxide and a given lower alcohol is stirred in a solventinert to the reaction, at normal pressure or under pressurization,preferably normal pressure, in the presence of a base and a palladiumcatalyst, at room temperature or with heating under reflux generally for0.1 hr to 5 days. Examples of the given lower alcohol include methanol,ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol and the like. While the solvent used hereis not particularly limited, examples thereof include aromatichydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, ethers suchas diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane and thelike, halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane,1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and the like, N,N-dimethylformamide,dimethyl sulfoxide, and a mixed solvent thereof. As the base, organicbases such as triethylamine and the like are preferable. As thepalladium catalyst, diacetoxypalladium,tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium,dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, palladiumchloride-1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and the like arepreferable.

[Documents]

A. d. Meijere and F. Diederich ed., “Metal-Catalyzed Cross-CouplingReactions”, first ed., VCH Publishers Inc., 1997

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th ed.)” vol.13 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Second Step)

In this step, the ester moiety of compound 1g is reduced to producecompound 1h.

In this step, compound 1g and a given reducing agent are used inequivalent amounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixturethereof is stirred in a solvent inert to the reaction, from undercooling to under heating, preferably from −20° C. to 80° C. generallyfor 0.1 hr-5 days. While the solvent used here is not particularlylimited, examples thereof include ethers such as diethyl ether,tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane and the like, alcohols such asmethanol, ethanol, 2-propanol and the like, aromatic hydrocarbons suchas benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, N,N-dimethylformamide,dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate and a mixture thereof. As the reducingagent, a hydride reducing agent such as sodium borohydride,diisobutylaluminum hydride and the like, a metal reducing agent such assodium, zinc, iron and the like, and a reducing agent in the followingdocument are preferably used.

[Documents]

M. Hudlicky, “Reductions in Organic Chemistry, 2nd ed (ACS Monograph:188)”, ACS, 1996

R. C. Larock, “Comprehensive Organic Transformations”, 2nd edition, VCHPublishers, Inc., 1999

T. J. Donohoe, “Oxidation and Reduction in Organic Synthesis (OxfordChemistry Primers 6)”, Oxford Science Publications, 2000

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th ed.)” vol.14 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Third Step)

In this step, the hydroxyl group moiety of compound 1h is halogenated toproduce compound 1j.

In this step, compound 1h and a given halogenating agent are used inequivalent amounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixturethereof is stirred in a solvent inert to the reaction, from undercooling to under heated reflux, preferably from −30° C. to under heatedreflux generally for 0.1 hr-5 days. The given halogenating agent may beany as long as it is a halogenating agent generally used for a halogensubstitution reaction of the hydroxyl group, and thionyl chloride,thionyl bromide, phosphorus oxychloride and the like are preferablyused. While the solvent used here is not particularly limited,halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform, etc. andthe like can be mentioned. When a halogen element or perbromide is usedas a halogenating agent, an organic solvent inert to the reaction suchas halogenated hydrocarbons, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters suchas ethyl acetate and the like, acetic acid and the like are preferablyused.

(Fourth Step)

In this step, compound 1j is etherified to produce compound 1m orcompound 1p.

In this step, compound 1j and compound 1k or compound 1n are used inequivalent amounts or one of them in an excess amount, and the mixturethereof is stirred in a solvent inert to the reaction or without asolvent, from under cooling to under heated reflux, preferably 0° C.-80°C. generally for 0.1 hr-5 days. While the solvent used here is notparticularly limited, examples thereof include aromatic hydrocarbonssuch as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, ethers such as diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane and the like,halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane,chloroform and the like, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide,ethyl acetate, acetonitrile and a mixture thereof. It is sometimesadvantageous to perform the reaction in the presence of an organic basesuch as triethylamine, N,N-diisopropylethylamine, N-methylmorpholine andthe like or an inorganic base such as potassium carbonate, sodiumcarbonate, potassium hydroxide and the like to smoothly carry out thereaction.

[Documents]

S. R. Sandler and W. Karo, “Organic Functional Group Preparations”, 2ndedition, vol. 1, Academic Press Inc., 1991

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th ed.)” vol.14 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Fifth Step)

In this step, the catechol moiety of compound 1m or compound 1p issubstituted by a benzyloxy group or a paramethoxybenzyloxy group and thelike to give the compound Iq or Ir of the present invention.

In this step, compound 1m or 1p and benzylalcohol orparamethoxybenzylalcohol are used in equivalent amounts or one of themin an excess amount, and the mixture thereof is stirred in the presenceof a given base, for example, t-butoxy potassium and the like, in asolvent inert to the reaction, from under cooling to under heatinggenerally for 0.1 hr-5 days. While the solvent used here is notparticularly limited, examples thereof include halogenated hydrocarbons,ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, N,N-dimethylformamide and a mixturethereof.

(Sixth Step)

In this step, compound 1q or 1r is deprotected to produce the compound(I-5) or (I-6) of the present invention.

In this step, the First production method can be used.

(Starting Material Synthesis 1)

In this production method, the starting material compound 1a of Firstproduction method is produced.

(First Step)

In this step, compound 2b is produced by the Suzuki coupling reaction orSonogashira coupling reaction from compound 2a produced by the methoddescribed in Journal of the Chemical Society. Perkin Transaction 1,1975, (6), 534-538 or a method analogous thereto.

In this step, compound 2a and a given organic boron compound or terminusalkyne derivative are used in equivalent amounts or one of them in anexcess amount, and the mixture thereof is stirred in a solvent inert tothe reaction in the presence of a base and palladium catalyst, from roomtemperature to under heated reflux generally for 0.1 hr-5 days. Thisreaction is preferably performed under an inert gas atmosphere. Whilethe solvent used here is not particularly limited, examples thereofinclude aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene and thelike, ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane,dimethoxyethane and the like, halogenated hydrocarbons such asdichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and the like, alcoholssuch as methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol and the like,N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and a mixed solvent thereof.As the base, an inorganic base such as sodium carbonate, potassiumcarbonate, cesium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and the like ispreferable. As the palladium catalyst,tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium,dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, palladiumchloride-1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and the like arepreferable.

The Sonogashira coupling reaction is preferably performed in thepresence of copper iodide and the like.

[Documents]

A. d. Meijere and F. Diederich ed., “Metal-Catalyzed Cross-CouplingReactions”, first ed., VCH Publishers Inc., 1997

The Chemical Society of Japan ed. “Jikken Kagaku Kouza (5th ed.)” vol.13 (2005) (Maruzen)

(Second Step)

In this step, the catechol moiety of compound 2b is substituted by abenzyloxy group or paramethoxybenzyloxy group and the like.

In this step, the method of Fourth production method, Fifth step can beused.

(Starting Material Synthesis 2)

wherein L⁴ is lower alkenylene.

In this production method, the starting material compound 1b of theSecond production method is produced.

(First Step)

In this step, compound 2c is produced by the Suzuki coupling reaction ofcompound 2a produced by the method described in Journal of the ChemicalSociety. Perkin Transaction 1, 1975, (6), 534-538 or a method analogousthereto.

In this step, the method of Starting material synthesis 1, First step,can be used.

(Second Step)

In this step, the lower alkenylene moiety of compound 2c is reduced toproduce compound 2d.

In this step, the method of First production method can be used.

(Third Step)

In this step, the catechol moiety of compound 2d is substituted by abenzyloxy group or a paramethoxybenzyloxy group and the like to producecompound 2e.

In this step, the method of Fourth production method, Fifth step can beused. By this step, the ester moiety can be simultaneously hydrolyzed.

(Fourth Step)

In this step, compound 2e is deprotected to produce compound 1b.

In this step, the method of First production method can be used.

The compound of the formula (I) is isolated as a free compound, a salt,hydrate, solvate, or substance having crystal polymorphism thereof andpurified. A salt of the compound of the formula (I) can also be producedby applying a salt formation reaction which is a conventional method.

The isolation and purification is performed by applying a generalchemical operation such as extraction, partition crystallization,various fraction chromatographys and the like.

Various isomers can be produced by selecting a suitable startingmaterial compound, or separated by utilizing difference inphysicochemical properties between isomers. For example, optical isomeris obtained by a general optical resolution method for racemate (e.g.,partition crystallization to lead to a diastereomer salt with opticallyactive base or acid, chromatography using chiral column and the likeetc.), and can also be produced from a suitable optically activestarting material compound.

The pharmacological activity of the compound of the formula (I) wasconfirmed by the following tests.

Experimental Example 1 DAAO Inhibitory Activity Test

The DAAO inhibitory activity was measured by assaying the amount ofhydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced by reacting DAAO protein with flavinadenine dinucleotide (FAD) and D-alanine. The amount of H₂O₂ wasdetermined by measuring the fluorescence generated on conversion ofAmplex red (manufactured by Invitrogen Co.) into resorufin by thereaction of H₂O₂ with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). 4 μL of 4% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.5), 0.02% CHAPS)solution of the test compound was added to 384-well black, low volumeplate, a mixed solution (4 μL) of recombinant human DAAO protein (15nM), which had been expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, and 18μM FAD was added, and the mixture was incubated at room temperature for15 min. After incubation, a mixed buffer (4 μL) of 2.25 mM D-alanine,1.5 U/mL HRP and 150 μM Amplex red was added, the mixture was incubatedat room temperature for 30 min, and the fluorescence (excitationwavelength 530 nm, fluorescence wavelength 590 nm) was measured using anEnvision plate reader (manufactured by Perkin Elmer Co.). To cross-checkthe artificial inhibition of Amplex red conversion or the HRP activityinhibition of the test compound, the fluorescence was also measuredunder the conditions of 30 μM H₂O₂ addition in the absence of DAAO.Taking the fluorescence value in the absence of the test compound as100% and the fluorescence value in the absence of DAAO as 0%, the DAAOactivity was regarded to have been inhibited when the fluorescence valuedecreased by 50% in the presence of the test compound, and theconcentration of the test compound at that time was taken as the IC₅₀value (nM).

The recombinant human DAAO protein used in the above-mentionedExperimental Example 1 was produced by the following method by referenceto Protein Science, 2006, 15, 12, 2708-2717.

1. Cloning and Expression of Human D-Amino Acid Oxidase (DAAO)

A cDNA encoding human DAAO having sequence 154-1197 of the DAAO sequence(NM_001917.4) registered at NCBI was cloned by PCR from human cDNAlibrary (manufactured by Clonetech) and inserted into the pET-42b vector(manufactured by Novagen) using NdeI and Xhol restriction enzyme sites.Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) (manufactured by Novagen) wastransformed with the constructed human DAAO expression vector,inoculated into LB culture medium containing kanamycin at a finalconcentration of 20 μg/mL, and shake-cultured at 37° C. overnight. Themultiplied transformant was inoculated into Terrific Broth containingkanamycin at a final concentration of 20 μg/mL, and shake-cultured at37° C. until it reached OD₆₀₀=3.0. Thereafter, the culture was cooled to30° C., and expression was induced with 1 mM IPTG. After 20 hours,bacterial pellets were recovered by centrifugation.

2. Purification of Human D-Amino Acid Oxidase (DAAO)

The bacterial pellets recovered as above were suspended in a lysisbuffer (17 mM sodium pyrophosphate buffer pH 8.3, 100 μM FAD, 1 mMsodium benzoate, 1 mM PMSF, 14 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 0.2 mg/mL lysozyme)and the bacteria were fractured by sonication. The sonicated liquid wascentrifuged and the supernatant was recovered. To remove the nucleicacid, to this supernatant were sequentially added NaCl (finalconcentration 0.5M) and 0.05% ethyleneimine (polymer) and, afterthorough mixing, the supernatant was recovered by centrifugation. Thesupernatant was heat treated at 55° C. for 15 min, and the supernatantwas recovered by centrifugation. To this supernatant was added 40%saturated ammonium sulfate and, after thorough mixing, the saltprecipitate was recovered by centrifugation. The obtained saltprecipitate was redissolved in buffer A (50 mM potassium phosphatebuffer pH 7.4, 10% glycerol, 200 μM sodium benzoate, 10 μM FAD, 20%saturated ammonium sulfate), and filtered through a 0.22 μm filter(manufactured by Millipore). The obtained filtrate was applied to ahydrophobic interaction column Butyl-S Sepharose 6 Fast Flow(manufactured by GE Healthcare Life Sciences) and eluted with buffer B(10 mM Tris buffer solution pH 8.0, 200 μM sodium benzoate, 10%glycerol, 10 μM FAD). The eluent was applied to an anion-exchangecolumn, Q Sepharose Fast Flow (manufactured by GE Healthcare LifeSciences) and eluted using an NaCl concentration gradient. The eluatewas replaced with buffer B (sic) using Amicon Ultra-15 10 kDa(manufactured by Millipore), and thereafter applied to an anion-exchangecolumn, RESOURCE Q 6 mL (manufactured by GE Healthcare Life Sciences),and eluted with an NaCl concentration gradient. The eluate wasconcentrated using Amicon Ultra-15 10 kDa, thereafter applied to aHiLoad 26/600 Superdex 200pg (manufactured by GE Healthcare LifeSciences) gel filtration column equilibrated with buffer C (10 mMpotassium phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 0.5M NaCl, 400 μM sodium benzoate, 20μM FAD), and the DAAO protein dimer fraction was recovered. Therecovered DAAO protein was replaced (sic) with buffer D (10 mM trisodiumcitrate, 20 μM FAD, 400 μM sodium benzoate) using Amicon Ultra-15 10kDa, concentrated to 10 mg/mL and cryopreserved at −80° C.

The results of some representative compounds are shown in Table 1. Ex.in the Table shows the Example No. mentioned later.

TABLE 1 Ex IC₅₀ (nM) 1 3.8 4 3.5 9 3.9 12 12 13 6.1 14 2.9 15 1.2 16 2.117 2.4 18 1.4 19 63 20 2.5 21 2.2 22 3.3 23 13 24 1.5 25 6.6 26 8.1 272.0 28 8.1 29 6.9 30 8.4 40 4.7 47 5.2 48 4.9 52 2.5 53 13 56 2.3 58 44212 3.1 231 2.9 232 2.3 237 2.2 254 2.7

Some representative compounds showed good DAAO inhibitory activity.

Experimental Example 2: Inhibitory Activity Test at Cellular Level UsingDAAO-Expressing Cells

This test was performed by partially modifying the method of Philip et.al. (J. Biomol. Screen. Vol. 11, pp 481-487, 2006). HEK293 cells thatstably express human DAAO were suspended in Cellbanker solution at 5×10⁶cells/ml and cryopreserved at −80° C. At the time of measurement, thecells were centrifuged at 1000 rpm for one min and the Cellbankersolution was removed. The cells were resuspended at 5×10⁶ cells/ml inFAD-containing buffer (50 mM sodium phosphate [pH 7.5], 18 μM FAD, 0.02%CHAPS). A 4% DMSO buffer solution (50 mM sodium phosphate [pH 7.5],0.02% CHAPS) of the test compound (4 μL) was added to a 384-well black,low volume plate, the cell suspension (4 μL) was added, and the mixturewas incubated at room temperature for 15 min. After incubation, a mixedbuffer (4 μL) of 150 mM D-alanine, 1.5 U/mL HRP and 240 μM Amplex redwas added to the plate, and the mixture was incubated at roomtemperature for 30 min, and the fluorescence (excitation wavelength 530nm, fluorescence wavelength 590 nm) was measured using an Envision platereader (manufactured by Perkin Elmer Co.). Taking the fluorescence valuein the absence of the test compound as 100% and the fluorescence valuein the absence of DAAO as 0%, the DAAO activity was regarded to havebeen inhibited when the fluorescence value decreased by 50% in thepresence of the test compound, and the concentration of the testcompound at that time was taken as the IC₅₀ value (nM). Moreover, toevaluate the cytotoxicity of the test compound, Alamar Blue reagent(manufactured by Wako Pure Chemicals Co.) was added instead of the mixedbuffer solution of 150 mM D-alanine, 1.5 U/mL HRP and 240 μM Amplex red,and the fluorescence (excitation wavelength 530 nm, fluorescencewavelength 590 nm) was measured.

The HEK293 cells which stably express human DAAO used in theabove-mentioned Experimental Example 2 were constructed by the followingmethod.

Isolation of Human DAAO Polynucleotide and Construction of ForcedExpression Cells

Reverse transcription was performed on human normal kidneytissue-derived RNA (Clontech Corp.) using reverse transcriptase(SuperScriptIII, Life Technologies Corporation) and oligo (dT) primer(Life Technologies Corporation) according to the protocol of the kit(Life Technologies Corporation) and cDNA was synthesized. Then, usinghuman DAAO_HindIII_F represented by Sequence No. 1 and humanDAAO_BamHI_R represented by Sequence No. 2, a PCR reaction (35 cycles of98° C. for 15 sec, 55° C. for 15 sec and 68° C. for 1 min 30 sec) wasperformed using DNA polymerase (PrimeSTAR, TAKARA BIO INC.) and cDNAobtained as above as a template. After the PCR reaction, electrophoresiswas performed to find that a PCR product of about 1000 base pairs wasobtained. The PCR product was cloned in a cloning vector (pCR2.1-TOPOCloning Kit, Life Technologies Corporation). The sequence of the insertwas determined by the dideoxy sequence method (BigDye Terminator v3.1Cycle Sequencing Kit; Life Technologies Corporation). As a result, thePCR product of about 1000 base pairs was found to have the sequence154-1197 in the sequence of DAAO (NM_001917.4) registered in NCBI.

To express the ORF full length of DAAO as a protein, the above-mentionedvector was subjected to an enzyme reaction with restriction enzymesHindIII and BamHI at 37° C. for 3 hr, and the restriction enzyme-treatedDNA fragment was purified. The DNA fragment containing the ORF wascloned to HindIII and BamHI sites present in the multiple cloning siteof the expression vector (pcDNA3.1(+): Invitrogen Co.), whereby anexpression plasmid (hDAAO/pcDNA3.1) was constructed.

Then, HEK293 cells were transfected to obtain the forced expression cellline. The cells were spread on a collagen-coated 24-well plate (Corning)to contain 1.0×10⁵ cells per well on the day before transfection and,using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) and hDAAO/pcDNA3.1, transfectedaccording to the protocol. Thereafter, subculture was performed severaltimes using 800 μg/mL geneticin, whereby a drug resistant cell line wasobtained.

To confirm acquisition of the human DAAO expression cell line, the cellswere spread on a collagen-coated 384-well black, clear bottom plate to2.5×10⁴ per well, and the cells were cultured at 37° C. in the presenceof 5% CO₂ for 24 hr. After culturing, the culture supernatant wasremoved, and a solution containing flavin adenine dinucleotide was addedto Hanks-20 mM Hepes (pH 7.4) buffer to 5.5 μg/mL, added by 20 μL perwell to the wells from which the supernatant had been removed, and themixture was allowed to react at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂ for 1hr. Thereafter, a Hanks-20 mM Hepes (pH 7.4) buffer solution added withAmplex Red (Molecular Probe) to 250 μM, D-alanine to 50 mM and HRP to0.5 U/mL was added at 5 μL per well, and the mixture was allowed toreact at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂ for 2 hr. The activity wasconfirmed by measuring according to the protocol of the Amplex Red,whereby the human DAAO expression cell line was constructed.

The results of some representative compounds are shown in Table 2. Ex.in the Table shows the Example No. mentioned later.

TABLE 2 Ex IC₅₀ (nM) 1 2.4 4 8.9 9 20 12 27 13 14 14 10 15 16 16 8.8 178.3 18 6.0 20 4.6 21 5.5 22 8.4 23 25 24 7.0 25 18 27 4.4 28 18 29 13 3014 40 9.8 47 12 48 11 52 11 56 8.8 212 7.2 231 13 232 13 237 5.1 254 6.3

Some representative compounds showed good DAAO inhibitory activity alsoin DAAO expressing cells. Some representative compounds did not showcytotoxicity.

Experimental Example 3: Impaired Spontaneous Alternation Behavior TestUsing MK-801 (Dizocilpine)-Induced Mouse

Antagonists to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors are known toinduce schizophrenia-like symptoms including cognitive impairment inhuman. Impaired spontaneous alternation behavior (Y-maze) in mouseinduced by an NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine) was used todetect an improved cognitive impairment effect.

Male ddY mice (5 weeks old) were used for the test. The test compound(vehicle for the Normal group and Control group) was administeredorally, and 10 min later, MK-801 hydrogen maleate (physiological salinefor the Normal group) (0.15 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered tothe Control group and the Test compound group. Then, 20 min later, themice were placed at one end of an arm of a Y-maze having arms of equallength in 3 directions, and the mice were allowed to freely explore for8 min and the number of entries into the arms during this period wascounted. Moreover, successive entry into 3 different arms was taken as aspontaneous alternation behavior and the Alternation rate was calculatedby the following formula as a ratio relative to the total number ofentries, and used as an index of cognitive function.

Alternation rate(%)=100×Alternation/(Total entry−2)

The results of the representative compound of Ex. 24 are shown inFIG. 1. Ex. in FIG. 1 shows the Example No. mentioned later.

In the Control group, the spontaneous alternation rate significantlydecreased as compared to the Normal group and the cognitive impairmentwas induced. The test compound of Ex. 24 at 0.03-0.1 mg/kg oraladministration significantly increased the spontaneous alternation raterelative to the Control group.

As shown in the above-mentioned Experiments, it was confirmed that somerepresentative compounds of the present invention have good DAAOinhibitory action in vitro and also in cellular systems, and therepresentative compound of Ex. 24 significantly increased thespontaneous alternation rate in an impaired spontaneous alternationbehavior test using MK-801 (dizocilpine)-induced mouse. Accordingly, thecompound of the formula (I) can be used as a prophylaxis and/ortherapeutic agent for diseases associated with DAAO, particularlyschizophrenia and neuropathic pain.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more kinds of the compoundof the formula (I) or a salt thereof as an active ingredient can beprepared by a method conventionally used and using an excipientgenerally used in this field, for example, excipient for drugs, carrierfor drugs and the like.

The administration may be in any form of oral administration by tablet,pill, capsule, granule, powder, liquid and the like, or by injectionsuch as by intraarticular, intravenous or intramuscular agent or thelike, or parenteral administration such as suppository, eye drop, eyeointment, transdermal liquid, ointment, transdermal adhesivepreparation, transmucosal liquid, transmucosal adhesive preparation,inhalant and the like.

As a solid composition for oral administration, tablets, powders,granules and the like are used. In such solid composition, one or morekinds of active ingredients are mixed with at least one kind of inertexcipient, for example, lactose, mannitol, dextrose,hydroxypropylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, starch,polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or magnesium metasilicate aluminate and thelike. In accordance with conventional methods, the composition maycontain inert additives, for example, lubricant such as magnesiumstearate, disintegrating agent such as carboxymethyl starch sodium andthe like, stabilizer and solubilizer. Tablets and pills may befilm-coated where necessary with a sugar coating film or a film of agastrosoluble or enteric substance.

Liquid composition for oral administration contains a pharmaceuticallyacceptable emulsifier, solution agent, suspending agent, syrup, elixirand the like, and a conventionally-used inert diluent, such as purifiedwater or ethanol. The liquid composition may contain adjuvants such assolubilizer, wetting agent, suspending agent and the like, sweetener,flavoring agent, fragrance and preservative, in addition to the inertdiluent.

Injection for parenteral administration contains sterile aqueous ornon-aqueous solvent, suspending agent or emulsifier. The aqueous solventincludes, for example, distilled water for injection and physiologicalsaline. The non-aqueous solvent includes, for example, propylene glycol,polyethylene glycol, vegetable oil such as olive oil, alcohols such asethanol, polysorbate 80 (Pharmacopeia name) and the like. Suchcomposition may further contain isotonizing agent, preservative, wettingagent, emulsifier, dispersant, stabilizer or solubilizer. These aresterilized by, for example, filtration through bacteria retainingfilter, or addition of a bactericide or irradiation. Moreover, these canbe produced as sterile solid compositions, which can be dissolved orsuspended in sterile water or sterile injectable solvent prior to use.

The external preparation encompasses ointment, plaster, cream, jelly,cataplasm, spray, lotion, eye drop, eye ointment and the like. Itcontains generally-used ointment base, toner base, aqueous ornon-aqueous liquid, suspension, emulsion and the like. Examples of theointment or toner base include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol,white petrolatum, white beeswax, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castoroil, glycerol monostearate, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol,lauromacrogol, sorbitan sesquioleate and the like.

As transmucosal agents such as inhalant, transnasal agent and the like,those in a solid, liquid or semi-solid form are used, which can beproduced by a conventionally-known method. For example, known excipient,and further, pH adjuster, preservative, surfactant, lubricant,stabilizer, thickener and the like may be appropriately added. Theadministration can be performed using a suitable device for inhalationor insufflation. For example, using a known device such as metered doseinhaler device and nebulizer, and the like, the compound can beadministered as a powder of its own or as a formulated powder mixture,or as a solution or suspension in combination with a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier. The dry powder inhalators and the like may be for asingle administration or multiple administrations, and a dry powder or apowder-containing capsule can be utilized. Alternatively, it may take aform of a pressurized aerosol spray and the like, that use a suitableejection agent, such as a suitable gas (e.g., chlorofluoroalkane,hydrofluoroalkane, carbon dioxide or the like).

Generally, for oral administration, the daily dose is about 0.001-100mg/kg/body weight, preferably 0.1-30 mg/kg/body weight, and morepreferably 0.1-1 mg/kg/body weight, which may be administered at once,or in 2-4 portions per day. For intravenous administration, a suitabledaily dose is about 0.0001-10 mg/kg/body weight, and this daily dose isadministered in a single dose to multiple doses per day. Moreover, atransmucosal agent is administered in about 0.001-100 mg/kg body weightas a single dose or one to multiple portions per day. The dose isdetermined as appropriate for individual cases in consideration of thesymptoms, age, gender and the like.

Although varying depending on the administration route, dosage form,administration site, and the kind of excipient and additive, thepharmaceutical composition of the present invention contains 0.01-100 wt%, in one embodiment, 0.01-50 wt % of one or more kinds of the compoundof the formula (I) or a salt thereof, which is the active ingredient.

The compound of the formula (I) can be used in combination with varioustherapeutic agents or prophylactic agents for diseases for which thecompound of the aforementioned formula (I) is considered to showeffectiveness. For such combined use, it can be administered bysimultaneous administration, or separately and continuously, or atdesired time intervals. The simultaneous administration preparation maybe a combination agent or separately formulated.

EXAMPLES

The production methods of the compound of the formula (I) are describedin more detail by way of Examples. However, the present invention is notlimited to the compounds described in the following Examples. Inaddition, production methods of the starting compounds are shown in theProduction Examples. The production methods of the compound of theformula (I) are not limited only to those of the concrete examples shownbelow, and the compound of the formula (I) can also be produced by acombination of those production methods or methods self-evident to aperson skilled in the art.

The following abbreviations are sometimes used in the ProductionExamples, Examples and Tables shown below. PEx: Production Examplenumber, Ex: Example number, No: compound number, Str: structural formula(Ph: phenyl, Bn: benzyl), PSyn: Production method (shows that thecompound was produced using the same production method as the compoundof the Production Example number indicated in the column; the compoundof Production Example 115 was produced by a method similar to that ofExample 7), Syn: Production method (shows that the compound was producedusing the same production method as the compound of the ProductionExample number indicated in the column), Data: Physical data, NMR 1: δ(ppm) of characteristic peak in ¹H-NMR in DMSO-d₅, ESI+: m/z value bymass spectrometry (ionization method ESI, unless otherwise indicated(M+H)⁺), ESI−: m/z value (ionization method ESI, unless otherwiseindicated (M−H)⁻), APCI+: m/z value by mass spectrometry (ionizationmethod APCI, unless otherwise indicated (M+H)⁺), FAB+: m/z value by massspectrometry (ionization method FAB, unless otherwise indicated (M+H)⁺),ESI/APCI+: m/z value by mass spectrometry (ionization method ESI/APCImultimode, unless otherwise indicated (M+H)⁺), ESI/APCI−: m/z value bymass spectrometry (ionization method ESI/APCI multimode, unlessotherwise indicated (M−H)⁻), PS-carbodiimide in Example 11 meanscarbodiimide (condensing agent) supported on polystyrene resin. “M” inthe Production Examples and Examples means mol/L. HCl in the structuralformula means hydrochloride.

In the structural formulas, a compound having an intersecting doublebond (e.g., PEx.13) means a mixture of E form and Z form.

Production Example 1

Toluene (10 ml) was added to 3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(600 mg), and (E)-2-phenylvinylboronic acid (480 mg),tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (315 mg) and 2M aqueous sodiumcarbonate solution (1.6 mL) were added at room temperature. The reactionmixture was stirred at 120° C. for 14 hr. Water was added and themixture was extracted with chloroform. The organic layer was washed withsaturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution and saturated brine, driedover anhydrous magnesium sulfate and the solvent was concentrated underreduced pressure. The obtained residue was washed with a mixed solventof hexane and ethyl acetate and filtered. The obtained solid was driedunder reduced pressure to give 3-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl][1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (386 mg).

Production Example 2

Under ice-cooling, to a solution (5 mL) of benzyl alcohol (350 μL) intoluene was added t-butoxy potassium (375 mg), and the mixture wasstirred for 20 min. To the mixture was added a toluene-dimethylformamide(1:1) suspension (10 ml) of 3-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl][1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (386 mg) at 0° C., and the mixturewas stirred at 120° C. for 19 hr. Water was added, and the mixture wasextracted with chloroform. The organic layer was washed with saturatedbrine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]pyridazine (473 mg).

Production Example 3

To a sealed reaction container were added3-iodo[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (200 mg) synthesized inProduction Example 9 to be mentioned later, 4-ethynylphenyltrifluoromethyl ether (0.15 mL), copper iodide (6 mg), triethylamine (64mg), bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (II) dichloride (22 mg) anddimethylformamide (5 mL), and the mixture was stirred at 120° C. for 0.5hr. Ethyl acetate and water were added, the organic layer was dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give3-{[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]ethynyl}[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(100 mg).

Production Example 4

Under an argon atmosphere, to 3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(500 mg) was added 1,2-dimethoxyethane (7.5 mL), and the mixture wasstirred. 2M Aqueous sodium carbonate solution (3.0 ml),(E)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]vinylboronic acid (580 mg) andtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (130 mg) were added, and themixture was stirred at 100° C. for 3 hr. The reaction mixture wasdiluted with ethyl acetate, and water was added. The organic layer wasseparated, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give acrude product (500 mg).

Successively, under an argon atmosphere and under ice-cooling, to asolution (5 mL) of benzyl alcohol (380 mg) in toluene was added t-butoxypotassium (400 mg), and the mixture was stirred. To the mixture wasadded dropwise a solution (15 mL) of the crude product (500 mg) intoluene-dimethylformamide (2:1) at 0° C., and the mixture was stirred at120° C. for 2 hr. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate,and water was added. The organic layer was separated, dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-{(E)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]vinyl}pyridazine(400 mg).

Production Example 5

To a solution (10 ml) of3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)vinyl]pyridazine (200 mg) indichloromethane were added triethylamine (200 μL) and2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonylhydrazide (700 mg), and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 40 hr. Triethylamine (200 μL) and2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonylhydrazide (700 mg) were added, and themixture was further stirred at room temperature for 24 hr. Water wasadded, and the mixture was extracted with chloroform. The organic layerwas washed with saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate,and the solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue waspurified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) togive 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]pyridazine (70 mg).

Production Example 6

To 3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (1.71 g) was added a mixedsolvent of dimethyl sulfoxide-methanol (1:1) (40 ml), and the mixturewas stirred. 1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (1.72 g),diacetoxypalladium (350 mg) and triethylamine (2.2 mL) were added, andthe mixture was stirred under a carbon monoxide atmosphere at 1 atm, 80°C. for 19 hr. Water was added and the mixture was extracted with ethylacetate, and the organic layer was washed with water and saturatedbrine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and the obtained residue waspurified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) togive methyl [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine-3-carboxylate (950 mg).

Production Example 7

To methyl [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine-3-carboxylate (950 mg) wasadded a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran-methanol (1:1) (20 ml), and themixture was stirred under ice-cooling. To the mixture was added sodiumborohydride (450 mg), and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 hr.Water was added and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic layer was washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrousmagnesium sulfate. The solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure,and the residue was washed with water to give[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazin-3-ylmethanol (560 mg).

Production Example 8

To [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazin-3-ylmethanol (8.1 g) was added1,2-dichloroethane (80 ml) and the mixture was stirred. Thionyl bromide(38.9 g) was added, and the mixture was stirred with heating underreflux for 2 hr. The mixture was diluted with chloroform, and theorganic layer was washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solventwas concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was washed withdiethyl ether to give 3-(bromomethyl) [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(8.0 g).

Production Example 9

Under an argon atmosphere, 3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(5.0 g), sodium iodide (6.79 g) and hydrogen iodide (55%) (57.98 g) wereadded and the mixture was stirred at 140° C. for 1 hr. The reactionmixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution was added, and the mixture was extracted. The organiclayer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure to give3-iodo[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (1.95 g).

Production Example 10

To 3-(bromomethyl) [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (500 mg) wereadded dimethylformamide (10 ml), potassium iodide (30 mg), potassiumcarbonate (750 mg) and 2-naphthylalcohol (290 mg), and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 24 hr. Water was added and the mixturewas extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with 1Maqueous sodium hydroxide solution and saturated brine, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure, and the residue was washed with diethyl ether and theresulting solid was filtered and dried under reduced pressure to give3-[(2-naphthyloxy)methyl] [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (400 mg).

Production Example 11

To a solution (20 ml) of ethyl(2E)-3-([1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazin-3-yl)acrylate (649 mg) inacetic acid was added 10% palladium-carbon (100 mg), and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 7 days under a hydrogen atmosphere. Thecatalyst was filtered off through celite, and the filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. To the residue was added saturatedaqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and the mixture was extractedwith chloroform. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate, and the solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure to giveethyl 3-([1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazin-3-yl)propanoate (609 mg).

Production Example 12

To ethyl 3-([1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazin-3-yl)propanoate (609 mg)were added toluene (10 ml), a solution (10 ml) of benzyl alcohol (1.08g) in toluene and t-butoxy potassium (1.12 g), and the mixture wasstirred at 120° C. for 6 hr. Water was added, and the aqueous layer waswashed with ethyl acetate. To the aqueous layer was added 1Mhydrochloric acid (30 ml), and the mixture was washed with chloroform.The aqueous layer was extracted with a mixed solvent(chloroform:ethanol=3:1). The organic layer was dried over anhydrousmagnesium sulfate, and the solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure to give a crude product (491 mg). Successively, to a solution(20 ml) of the obtained crude product (491 mg) in ethanol was added 10%palladium-carbon (50 mg), and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 16 hr under a hydrogen atmosphere. The catalyst wasfiltered off through celite, and the filtrate was concentrated underreduced pressure to give3-(5-hydroxy-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)propionic acid (215 mg).

Production Example 13

Under an argon atmosphere, a mixture of 1-ethynylnaphthalene (1.0 g) and1,3,2-benzodioxaborole (0.79 g) was stirred at 70° C. for 1 hr. Thereaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to give crudeproduct 1 (1.21 g).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 1 (1.21 g) was added water(10 ml) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr. To thereaction mixture was added hexane and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature. The resulting solid was collected by filtration, and washedwith hexane to give a crude product 2 (510 mg).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 2 (430 mg) were added3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (400 mg), 1,2-dimethoxyethane(7.5 mL), 2M aqueous sodium carbonate solution (3.0 ml) andtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (110 mg) at room temperature. Thereaction mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 3 hr. Water was added, andthe mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer wasdried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and the solvent was concentratedunder reduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gelcolumn chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give3-[2-(1-naphthyl)vinyl] [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (600 mg).

Production Example 14

Under an argon atmosphere, a mixture of 1-ethynyl-2-methylbenzene (1.0g) and 1,3,2-benzodioxaborole (1.05 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 1 hr.The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to givecrude product 3 (1.36 g).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 3 (1.36 g) was added water(10 ml) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr. To thereaction mixture was added hexane and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature. The resulting solid was collected by filtration, and washedwith hexane to give a crude product 4 (160 mg).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 4 (160 mg) were added3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (220 mg), 1,2-dimethoxyethane(5 mL), 2M aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2.0 ml) andtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (130 mg) at room temperature. Thereaction mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 3 hr. Water was added, andthe residue was filtered to give a crude product 5 (360 mg). Underice-cooling, to a solution (5 mL) of benzyl alcohol (320 mg) in toluenewas added t-butoxy potassium (330 mg) and the mixture was stirred for 10min. To the mixture was added a solution (15 mL) of the crude product 5(360 mg) in toluene-dimethylformamide (1:2) at 0° C., and the mixturewas stirred at 120° C. for 4 hr. Water was added, and the mixture wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was dried over anhydrousmagnesium sulfate and the solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[2-(2-methylphenyl)vinyl]pyridazine (410 mg).

Production Example 24

Under an argon atmosphere, to 3-chloro[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(500 mg) were added 1,2-dimethoxyethane (7.5 ml), 2M aqueous sodiumcarbonate solution (3.0 mL),2-[(E)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)vinyl]-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane(720 mg) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (130 mg). Thereaction mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 3 hr and cooled to roomtemperature. Water was added, and the obtained solid was collected byfiltration and dried under reduced pressure to give3-[(E)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)vinyl] [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(700 mg).

Production Example 50

Under ice-cooling, to a solution (20 mL) of benzyl alcohol (580 mg) intetrahydrofuran was added 60% sodium hydride (220 mg), and the mixturewas stirred for 10 min. To the mixture was added a solution (10 mL) of3-[(E)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)vinyl] [1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine(700 mg) in tetrahydrofuran, and the mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 4hr. Water was added, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate.The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and thesolvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residuewas purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate)to give 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)vinyl]pyridazine(710 mg).

Example 1

To a solution (8 mL) of3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]pyridazine (272 mg) in ethanolwas added 10% palladium-carbon (90 mg), and the mixture was stirredunder a hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 4 hr. The catalystwas filtered off through celite, and the filtrate was concentrated underreduced pressure. To the residue was added ethyl acetate-chloroform, andthe resulting solid was collected by filtration and dried under reducedpressure to give 3-hydroxy-6-(2-phenylethyl)pyridazin-4(1H)-one (60 mg).

Example 2

To a solution (5 mL) of3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)vinyl]pyridazine (150 mg) indichloromethane was added a solution (770 μL) of 1M boron tribromide indichloromethane at −78° C. and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 3hr. Methanol was added to terminate the reaction, and the solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silicagel column chromatography (chloroform -methanol) and the obtained solidwas washed with ethanol-water, collected by filtration and dried underreduced pressure to give6-[(E)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)vinyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one (58 mg).

Example 3

Under a nitrogen atmosphere, 10% palladium-barium sulfate (120 mg) wassuspended in ethanol (10 ml), and3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(2-naphthyloxy)methyl]pyridazine (120 mg) wasadded. Under a hydrogen atmosphere, the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 5 hr. The catalyst was filtered off through celite, andthe filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue waswashed with diethyl ether, and the resulting solid was collected byfiltration and dried under reduced pressure to give3-hydroxy-6-[(2-naphthyloxy)methyl]pyridazin-4(1H)-one (30 mg).

Example 4

A solution (130 ml) of 3-(chloromethyl)[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (941 mg) in dimethylformamide wasprepared. To this solution (1 mL) were added 2-fluorophenol (4.5 mg),potassium carbonate (5 mg) and potassium iodide (5 mg) and the mixturewas stirred at room temperature for 20 hr. Water was added to thereaction solution and the mixture was extracted with chloroform. Theorganic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure, to the residuewere added a separately-prepared solution (1 mL) ofparamethoxybenzylalcohol (1.2 mL) in toluene (150 ml) and t-butoxypotassium (10 mg) and the mixture was stirred at 120° C. for 17 hr. Tothe reaction solution was added 1M hydrochloric acid and the mixture wasextracted with chloroform. The organic layer was concentrated underreduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane (1 mL),thioanisole (30 μL) and trifluoroacetic acid (0.5 mL) were added and themixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 days. The solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure, and the obtained residue waspurified by reversed-phase column chromatography (methanol-0.1% aqueousformic acid solution) to give6-[(2-fluorophenoxy)methyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-4(1H)-one (1.0 mg).

Example 5

A solution (184 mL) of2-(chloromethyl)-5-[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]pyridin-4(1H)-one (1.62 g) indimethylformamide was prepared. To this solution (1 mL) were added1,4′-bipiperidin-4-ol (7.4 mg) and potassium carbonate (6 mg) and themixture was stirred at room temperature for 22 hr, and further at 60° C.for 3 days. Water was added to the reaction solution and the mixture wasextracted with chloroform. The organic layer was concentrated underreduced pressure, to the residue were added thioanisole (100 μL) andtrifluoroacetic acid (1 mL) and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 21 hr. The solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure, the obtained residue was purified by reversed-phase columnchromatography (methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acid solution) to give5-hydroxy-2-[(4-hydroxy-1,4′-bipiperidin-1′-yl)methyl]pyridin-4(1H)-one(1.4 mg).

Example 6

To a solution (10 mL) of 3-(bromomethyl)[1,4]benzodioxino[2,3-c]pyridazine (500 mg) in N,N-dimethylformamidewere added potassium iodide (29 mg), potassium carbonate (620 mg) and3,5-difluorophenol (350 mg) and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 24 hr. Water was added to the reaction solution and themixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic layer was washedwith 1M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and saturated brine, and driedover anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was concentrated underreduced pressure to give a crude product 6 (350 mg).

Successively, under ice-cooling, to a solution (5 mL) of benzyl alcohol(280 μL) in toluene was added t-butoxy potassium (300 mg) and themixture was stirred for 15 min. The crude product 6 (350 mg) in a mixedsolvent (15 mL) of N,N-dimethylformamide-toluene (1:2) was added at 0°C., and the mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 5 hr. To the reactionsolution was added ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was washed with1M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and saturated brine, and themixture was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent wasconcentrated under reduced pressure and the obtained residue was addedto a suspension of 10% palladium-barium sulfate (500 mg) in ethanol (10ml) under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the mixture was stirred under ahydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 5 hr. The catalyst wasfiltered off through celite, and the filtrate was concentrated underreduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (chloroform -methanol) to give6-[(3,5-difluorophenoxy)methyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-4(1H)-one (73 mg).

Example 7

To 5-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (500 mg) was added acetic acid(20 ml), and N-bromosuccinimide (734 mg) was added at room temperature.The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 hr. Theobtained solid was collected by filtration and washed with ethylacetate. The obtained residue was purified by reversed-phase columnchromatography (methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acid solution) andsolidified by dimethylformamide to give6-bromo-5-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (40 mg).

Example 8

To a suspension of 55% sodium hydride (1.6 g) in tetrahydrofuran (100ml) was added 6-bromo-5-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (2.71 g),chloromethyl methyl ether (2.8 mL) was added, and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 3 hr. Water was added and the mixturewas extracted with chloroform. The organic layer was concentrated underreduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography to give a crude product 7 (1.22 g).

To the obtained crude product 7 (1.02 g) were added 1,2-dimethoxyethane(18 mL), 2M aqueous sodium carbonate solution (2 mL), trimethylboroxin(480 μL) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (377 mg), and themixture was stirred under an argon atmosphere under microwaveirradiation at 130° C. for 1 hr. Water was added and the mixture wasextracted with chloroform and the organic phase was concentrated underreduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography to give a crude product 8 (255 mg).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 8 (55 mg) was addeddichloromethane (5 mL), a solution (1 mL) of 1M boron tribromide indichloromethane was added under ice-cooling and the mixture was stirredat the same temperature for 30 min. The solvent was concentrated underreduced pressure, and the obtained residue was purified byreversed-phase column chromatography (methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acidsolution) to give 5-chloro-3-hydroxy-6-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one (8 mg).

Example 9

To a suspension of 55% sodium hydride (253 mg) in dimethylformamide (15mL) was added 5-bromo-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (500 mg) underice-cooling. After stirring at room temperature for 1 hr, chloromethylmethyl ether (435 μL) was added under ice-cooling, and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 3 hr. Water was added and the mixturewas extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed withsaturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and thesolvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained residuewas purified by silica gel column chromatography (chloroform-methanol)to give a crude product 9 (149 mg).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 9 (149 mg) were addeddioxane (10 ml), water (2 mL), trans-2-phenylvinylboronic acid (119 mg),potassium phosphate (341 mg) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(62 mg), and the mixture was stirred under an argon atmosphere at 100°C. for 6 hr. Water was added and the mixture was extracted with ethylacetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated brine, dried overanhydrous magnesium sulfate and the solvent was concentrated underreduced pressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (hexane-ethyl acetate) to give a crude product 10 (114mg).

Successively, the obtained crude product 10 (114 mg) was dissolved inethanol (10 ml), 10% palladium-carbon (50 mg) and ethanol (10 ml) wereadded, and the mixture was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere at roomtemperature for 4 hr. The catalyst was filtered off through celite, andthe filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crudeproduct 11 (94 mg).

Successively, to a solution (5 mL) of the obtained crude product 11 (94mg) in dichloromethane was added a solution (5 mL) of 1M borontribromide in dichloromethane under ice-cooling and the mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 4 hr. The obtained solid was collectedby filtration, and washed with water. The obtained residue was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (chloroform-methanol) and solidifiedwith ethanol to give 3-hydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one (38mg).

Example 10

To a suspension of 55% sodium hydride (1.6 g) in tetrahydrofuran (100ml) were added 6-bromo-5-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one (2.71 g) andchloromethyl methyl ether (2.8 mL), and the mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 3 hr. Water was added and the mixture was extracted withchloroform, and the organic layer was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography to give a crude product 12 (1.22 g).

Successively, the crude product 12 (1.02 g) was dissolved in1,2-dimethoxyethane (18 mL), trimethylboroxin (479 μL),tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (377 mg) and 2M aqueous sodiumcarbonate solution (2 mL) were added, and the mixture was stirred at130° C. under microwave irradiation for 1 hr. After allowing to cool,water was added and the mixture was extracted with chloroform, and theorganic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtainedresidue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to give a crudeproduct 13 (255 mg).

Successively, to the obtained crude product 13 (156 mg) were addedtoluene (4 mL) and water (0.5 mL), (E)-2-phenylvinylboronic acid (140mg), 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl (52 mg),tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (0) (29 mg) and potassiumphosphate (268 mg) were added at room temperature and the mixture wasstirred at 130° C. under microwave irradiation for 1 hr. After allowingto cool, water was added and the mixture was extracted withdichloromethane, and the solvent was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography to give a crude product 14 (92 mg).

Successively, to the crude product 14 was added the crude product 14 (38mg) separately synthesized in the same manner as above. To a solution ofthe mixed crude product 14 (130 mg) in ethanol (10 ml) was added 10%palladium-carbon (100 mg), and the mixture was stirred under a hydrogenatmosphere at room temperature for 3 hr. The catalyst was filtered offthrough celite, and the filtrate was concentrated under reducedpressure. The obtained residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography to give a crude product 15 (77 mg).

Successively, to a solution of the obtained crude product 15 (77 mg) indichloromethane (5 mL) was added a solution (1 mL) of 1M borontribromide in dichloromethane under ice-cooling, and the mixture wasstirred at the same temperature for 30 min. The solvent was concentratedunder reduced pressure, and the residues was purified by reversed-phasecolumn chromatography (methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acid solution) togive 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-(2-phenylethyl)pyridin-2 (1H) -one (28 mg).

Example 11

A solution of 3-(5-hydroxy-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)propionicacid (215 mg) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (158 mg) inN,N-dimethylformamide (100 ml) was prepared, the solution (1 mL) wasadded to a solution (0.5 mol/L, 30 μL) of N,N-dimethylethylenediamine inN-methylpyrrolidinone, PS-carbodiimide (50 mg) was added and the mixturewas stirred for 16 hr. The reaction mixture was filtered, and thefiltrate was purified by reversed-phase column chromatography(methanol-0.1% aqueous formic acid solution) to giveN-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-3-(5-hydroxy-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)propanamide(1.7 mg).

Example 24

A mixture of 10% palladium-carbon (280 mg), ethanol (25 mL) and3,4-bis(benzyloxy)-6-[(E)-2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)vinyl]pyridazine (710mg) was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for 1hr. The catalyst was filtered off through celite, and the filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. To the obtained residue was addeddiethyl ether and the obtained solid was dried under reduced pressure togive 6-[2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-hydroxypyridazin-3(2H)-one (140mg).

The compounds shown in the following Tables were produced in the samemanner as in the aforementioned Production Examples and Examples.

The chemical structural formulas, production methods and physicochemicaldata of the compounds of Production Examples are shown in the followingTable 3 to Table 17, the chemical structural formulas of the Examplecompounds are shown in Table 18 to Table 34, and the production methodsand physicochemical data of the Example compounds are shown in Table 35to Table 45.

The structures of other compounds of the present invention are shown inthe following Table 46-Table 57. They can be easily synthesized by theabove-mentioned production methods, the methods described in theExamples and the methods obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art,or modified methods thereof.

TABLE 3 PEx PSyn Str Data 1 1

ESI+: 289 2 2

ESI+: 395 3 3

ESI+: 371 4 4

ESI+: 463 5 5

ESI+: 431/433 6 6

ESI+: 245 7 7

ESI+: 217

TABLE 4 PEx PSyn Str Data 8 8

ESI+: 279/281 9 9

ESI+: 313 10 10

ESI+: 343 11 11

ESI/APCI+: 287 12 12

ESI/APCI −: 183 13 13

ESI+: 339 14 14

ESI+: 409 15 1

ESI+: 319 16 1

ESI+: 241

TABLE 5 PEx PSyn Str Data 17 1

ESI+: 307 18 1

ESI+: 425 19 13

APCI+: 307 20 13

ESI+: 303 21 1

ESI+: 325 22 1

ESI+: 365 23 1

ESI+: 349 24 24

ESI+: 325

TABLE 6 PEx PSyn Str Data 25 13

ESI+: 345 26 1

ESI+: 257 27 1

ESI+: 227 28 3

ESI+: 355 29 2

ESI+: 319 30 2

ESI+: 333 31 2

ESI+: 347 32 2

ESI+: 401

TABLE 7 PEx PSyn Str Data 33 2

ESI+: 375 34 2

ESI+: 373 35 2

ESI+: 395 36 2

ESI+: 423 37 1

ESI+: 213 38 2

ESI+: 445 39 2

ESI+: 413 40 2

ESI+: 463 41 2

ESI+: 409

TABLE 8 PEx PSyn Str Data 42 2

ESI+: 425 43 2

ESI+: 471 44 2

ESI+: 425 45 2

ESI+: 413 46 2

ESI+: 531 47 2

ESI+: 413 48 2

ESI+: 409 49 2

ESI+: 455

TABLE 9 PEx PSyn Str Data 50 50

ESI+: 431 51 2

ESI+: 451 52 2

ESI+: 363 53 2

ESI+: 409 54 2

ESI+: 461 55 2

ESI+: 477 56 2

ESI+: 431 57 3

ESI+: 375

TABLE 10 PEx PSyn Str Data 58 1

ESI+: 269 59 1

ESI+: 267 60 1

ESI+: 319 61 1

ESI+: 289 62 13

ESI+: 317 63 8

ESI/APCI+: 235/237 64 1

ESI+: 303 65 1

ESI+: 307 66 10

ESI+: 343

TABLE 11 PEx PSyn Str Data 67 10

ESI+: 311 68 10

ESI+: 311 69 10

ESI+: 307 70 10

ESI+: 323 71 10

ESI+: 323 72 10

ESI+: 293 73 10

ESI+: 347 74 10

ESI+: 363

TABLE 12 PEx PSyn Str Data 75 10

ESI+: 307 76 10

ESI+: 307 77 10

ESI+: 369 78 10

ESI+: 361 79 10

ESI+: 361 80 10

ESI+: 361 81 10

ESI+: 329 82 10

ESI+: 377

TABLE 13 PEx PSyn Str Data 83 10

ESI+: 335 84 10

ESI+: 333 85 10

ESI+: 371 86 10

ESI+: 387 87 10

ESI+: 347 88 10

ESI+: 308 89 10

ESI+: 429

TABLE 14 PEx PSyn Str Data 90 2

ESI+: 449 91 2

ESI+: 449 92 2

ESI+: 417 93 2

ESI+: 417 94 2

ESI+: 413 95 2

ESI+: 429 96 2

ESI+: 429 97 2

ESI+: 399

TABLE 15 PEx PSyn Str Data 98 2

ESI+: 453 99 2

ESI+: 469 100 2

ESI+: 413 101 2

ESI+: 413 102 2

ESI+: 475 103 2

ESI+: 467 104 2

ESI+: 467 105 2

ESI+: 467

TABLE 16 PEx PSyn Str Data 106 2

ESI+: 435 107 2

ESI+: 483 108 2

ESI+: 441 109 2

ESI+: 439 110 2

ESI+: 477 111 2

ESI+: 493 112 2

ESI+: 453 113 2

ESI+: 414

TABLE 17 PEx PSyn Str Data 114 2

ESI+: 535 115 Syn7

ESI/APCI+: 218/220 116 1

ESI/APCI+: 285 117 1

ESI+: 357 118 1

ESI+: 303 119 1

ESI+: 323/325 120 2

ESI+: 429/431 121 1

ESI+: 295

TABLE 18 Ex Str  1

 2

 3

 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

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11

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13

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15

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TABLE 19 Ex Str 17

18

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28

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30

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TABLE 20 Ex Str 32

33

34

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36

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44

TABLE 21 Ex Str 45

46

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TABLE 22 Ex Str 61

62

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75

TABLE 23 Ex Str 76

77

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90

91

TABLE 24 Ex Str  92

 93

 94

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103

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105

106

TABLE 25 Ex Str 107

108

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118

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TABLE 26 Ex Str 122

123

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TABLE 27 Ex Str 135

136

137

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140

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TABLE 28 Ex Str 148

149

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TABLE 29 Ex Str 160

161

162

163

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TABLE 30 Ex Str 175

176

177

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TABLE 31 Ex Str 192

193

194

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TABLE 32 Ex Str 208

209

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222

TABLE 33 Ex Str 223

224

225

226

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237

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TABLE 34 Ex Str 239

240

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253

254

TABLE 35 Ex Syn Data 1 1 NMR1: 2.73-2.77 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.89 (m, 2H),6.57 (s, 1H), 7.15-7.29 (m, 5H), 12.7 (s, 1H) ESI+: 217 2 2 NMR1; 7.00(d, J = 16.8 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 7.28 (d, J = 16.8 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (d,J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.64 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 10.90 (s, 1H), 13.00 (s, 1H)FAB+: 249/251 3 3 NMR1: 5.00 (s, 2H), 6.72 (s, 1H), 7.21-7.24 (m, 1H),7.34-7.49 (m, 3H), 7.78-7.86 (m, 3H), 12.92 (brs, 1H) ESI+: 269 4 4ESI+: 237 5 5 ESI+: 308 6 6 NMR1: 4.92 (s, 2H), 6.67 (s, 1H), 6.79-6.84(m, 3H), 12.97 (s, 1H) ESI+: 255 7 7 NMR1; 7.28 (s, 1H), 10.40 (brs,1H), 12.15 (brs, 1H) ESI/APCI+: 224/226/228 8 8 NMR1: 2.07 (s, 3H), 7.09(s, 1H) ESI+: 160/162 9 9 NMR1; 2.53-2.61 (m, 2H), 2.73-2.80 (m, 2H),6.58 (s, 1H), 6.68 (s, 1H), 7.14-7.33 (m, 5H), 8.83 (s, 1H), 11.39 (s,1H) ESI+: 216 10 10 NMR1: 2.04 (s, 3H), 2.58-2.62 (m, 2H), 2.71-2.74 (m,2H), 6.56 (s, 1H), 7.16-7.21 (m, 3H), 7.26-7.30 (m, 2H), 8.50 (brs, 1H),11.39 (brs, 1H), ESI/APCI+: 230 11 11 ESI+: 255 12 1 NMR1: 2.75-2.83 (m,2H), 2.94-3.02 (m, 2H), 6.61 (s, 1H), 7.45 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.63 (d,J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 10.74 (brs, 1H), 12.67 (s, 1H) ESI+: 285 13 1 NMR1:2.25 (s, 3H), 2.66-2.76 (m, 2H), 2.77-2.86 (m, 2H), 6.57 (s, 1H),7.02-7.11 (m, 4H), 10.68 (brs, 1H), 12.65 (s, 1H) ESI+: 231 14 1 NMR1:2.67-2.74 (m, 2H), 2.76-2.84 (m, 2H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 6.83(d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H), 10.68 (brs, 1H), 12.65(s, 1H) ESI+: 247 15 1 NMR1: 2.76-2.83 (m, 2H), 2.88-2.96 (m, 2H), 6.63(s, 1H), 7.28-7.37 (m, 3H), 7.41-7.48 (m, 2H), 7.54-7.60 (m, 2H),7.61-7.66 (m, 2H), 10.72 (brs, 1H), 12.68 (s, 1H) ESI+: 293

TABLE 36 Ex Syn Data 16 1 NMR1: 2.70-2.79 (m, 2H), 2.80-2.88 (m, 2H),3.72 (s, 3H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 6.71-6.80 (m, 3H), 7.14-7.21 (m, 1H), 10.69(brs, 1H), 12.67 (s, 1H) ESI+: 247 17 1 NMR1: 2.75-2.83 (m, 2H),2.94-3.03 (m, 2H), 6.62 (s, 1H), 7.47-7.61 (m, 4H), 10.72 (brs, 1H),12.68 (s, 1H) ESI+: 285 18 1 NMR1: 2.73-2.80 (m, 2H), 2.86-2.94 (m, 2H),6.59 (s, 1H), 6.96-7.11 (m, 3H), 7.26-7.34 (m, 1H), 10.72 (brs, 1H),12.67 (s, 1H) ESI+: 235 19 1 NMR1: 2.79-2.87 (m, 2H), 3.05-3.14 (m, 2H),6.63 (s, 1H), 7.90 (s, 1H), 7.96 (s, 2H), 10.75 (brs, 1H), 12.68 (s, 1H)ESI+: 353 20 1 NMR1: 2.26 (s, 3H), 2.69-2.77 (m, 2H), 2.78-2.86 (m, 2H),6.57 (s, 1H), 6.95-7.06 (m, 3H), 7.11-7.18 (m, 1H), 10.69 (brs, 1H),12.66 (s, 1H) ESI+: 231 21 1 NMR1: 2.68-2.77 (m, 2H), 2.84-2.92 (m, 2H),6.57 (s, 1H), 6.96-7.04 (m, 1H), 7.11-7.20 (m, 1H), 7.27-7.37 (m, 1H),10.73 (brs, 1H), 12.66 (s, 1H) ESI+: 253 22 1 NMR1: 2.27 (s, 3H),2.66-2.74 (m, 2H), 2.81-2.89 (m, 2H), 6.58 (s, 1H), 7.05-7.17 (m, 4H),10.70 (brs, 1H), 12.68 (s, 1H) ESI+: 231 23 1 NMR1: 2.69-2.84 (m, 4H),3.70 (s, 6H), 6.28-6.32 (m, 1H), 6.35-6.40 (m, 2H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 10.70(brs, 1H), 12.67 (s, 1H) ESI+: 277 24 24 NMR1: 2.72-2.81 (m, 2H),2.87-2.95 (m, 2H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 6.94-7.06 (m, 3H), 10.74 (brs, 1H),12.68 (s, 1H) ESI+: 253 25 1 NMR1: 1.25 (s, 9H), 2.69-2.77 (m, 2H),2.79-2.86 (m, 2H), 6.60 (s, 1H), 7.13 (d, J = 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.28 (d, J =8.4 Hz, 2H), 10.70 (brs, 1H), 12.67 (s, 1H) ESI+: 273 26 1 NMR1:1.72-1.82 (m, 2H), 2.44-2.52 (m, 2H), 3.22 (s, 3H), 3.31 (t, J = 6.4 Hz,2H), 6.53 (s, 1H), 10.69 (brs, 1H), 12.65 (s, 1H) ESI+: 185 27 1 NMR1:2.71-2.78 (m, 2H), 2.86-2.95 (m, 2H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 7.05-7.16 (m, 2H),7.19-7.31 (m, 2H), 10.71 (brs, 1H), 12.66 (s, 1H) ESI+: 235

TABLE 37 Ex Syn Data 28 1 NMR1: 2.70-2.78 (m, 2H), 2.86-2.95 (m, 2H),6.53 (s, 1H), 7.25 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.34 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 10.79(brs, 1H), 12.59 (s, 1H) ESI+: 301 29 1 NMR1: 0.88 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H),1.22-1.34 (m, 2H), 1.47-1.58 (m, 2H), 2.39-2.47 (m, 2H), 6.53 (s, 1H),10.67 (brs, 1H), 12.64 (s, 1H) ESI+: 169 30 1 NMR1: 2.73-2.81 (m, 2H),3.00-3.08 (m, 2H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 7.39-7.46 (m, 1H), 7.49-7.54 (m, 1H),7.58-7.64 (m, 1H), 7.65-7.71 (m, 1H), 10.78 (brs, 1H), 12.70 (s, 1H)ESI+: 285 31 1 NMR1: 1.10 (s, 6H), 1.56-1.65 (m, 2H), 2.45-2.53 (m, 2H),4.21 (brs, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 10.66 (brs, 1H), 12.62 (s, 1H) ESI+: 19932 4 ESI+: 323 33 4 ESI+: 349 34 4 ESI+: 333 35 4 ESI+: 276 36 4 ESI+:302 37 4 ESI+: 379 38 4 ESI+: 337 39 4 ESI+: 301 40 1 NMR1: 0.81-0.97(m, 2H), 1.05-1.29 (m, 4H), 1.39-1.50 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.77 (m, 5H),2.41-2.48 (m, 2H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 10.67 (brs, 1H), 12.63 (s, 1H) ESI+:223 41 4 ESI+: 295 42 4 ESI+: 311 43 4 ESI+: 277 44 4 ESI+: 321 45 4ESI+: 311 46 4 ESI+: 346 47 4 ESI+: 265 48 1 NMR1: 1.48 (d, J = 7.2 Hz,3H), 4.00 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.41 (s, 1H), 7.18-7.35 (m, 5H), 10.72(brs, 1H), 12.74 (s, 1H) ESI+: 217 49 7 NMR1; 7.32 (s, 1H) ESI/APCI+:268/270/272 50 1 NMR1: 1.11 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H), 2.47 (q, J = 7.6 Hz,2H), 6.54 (s, 1H), 10.67 (brs, 1H), 12.64 (s, 1H) ESI+: 141 51 7 NMR1;7.34 (s, 1H) ESI/APCI+: 224/226/228

TABLE 38 Ex Syn Data 52 1 NMR1: 1.50-1.62 (m, 4H), 2.42-2.52 (m, 2H),2.55-2.62 (m, 2H), 6.51 (s, 1H), 7.13-7.21 (m, 3H), 7.23-7.29 (m, 2H),10.69 (brs, 1H), 12.64 (s, 1H) ESI+: 245 53 1 NMR1: 1.80-1.92 (m, 2H),2.42-2.52 (m, 2H), 2.55-2.62 (m, 2H), 6.55 (s, 1H), 7.14-7.23 (m, 3H),7.24-7.31 (m, 2H), 10.69 (brs, 1H), 12.66 (s, 1H) ESI+: 231 54 2 NMR1;6.68-6.78 (m, 1H), 6.87-6.95 (m, 1H) ESI/APCI+: 190/192 55 9 NMR1:2.71-2.75 (m, 2H), 2.78-2.83 (m, 2H), 7.10 (s, 1H), 7.18-7.23 (m, 3H),7.28-7.32 (m, 2H), 9.33 (brs, 1H), 11.91 (brs, 1H), ESI/APCI+: 250/25256 1 NMR1: 2.82-2.91 (m, 2H), 3.29-3.41 (m, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H), 7.32-7.46(m, 2H), 7.49-7.60 (m, 2H), 7.74-7.80 (m, 1H), 7.89-7.96 (m, 1H),8.07-8.15 (m, 1H), 10.71 (brs, 1H), 12.68 (s, 1H) ESI+: 267 57 3 NMR1;5.05 (s, 2H), 6.56 (s, 1H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.67 (s, 2H), 12.76 (brs, 1H)58 9 NMR1; 0.79-0.95 (m, 2H), 1.05-1.25 (m, 4H), 1.28-1.38 (m, 2H),1.54-1.75 (m, 5H), 2.21-2.31 (m, 2H), 6.60 (s, 2H), 8.86 (s, 1H), 11.41(brs, 1H) ESI/APCI+: 222 59 9 NMR1; 0.90 (s, 9H), 1.27-1.38 (m, 2H),2.17-2.28 (m, 2H), 6.59-6.64 (m, 2H), 8.85 (s, 1H), 11.42 (brs, 1H)ESI/APCI+: 196 60 5 ESI+: 223 61 5 ESI+: 237 62 5 ESI+: 306 63 5 ESI+:343 64 5 ESI+: 273 65 5 ESI+: 306 66 5 ESI+: 277 67 5 ESI+: 344 68 5ESI+: 288 69 5 ESI+: 237 70 5 ESI+: 263 71 5 ESI+: 349 72 5 ESI+: 353 735 ESI+: 237

TABLE 39 Ex Syn Data 74 5 ESI+: 294 75 5 ESI+: 302 76 5 ESI+: 313 77 5ESI+: 341 78 5 ESI+: 331 79 5 ESI+: 339 80 5 ESI+: 315 81 5 ESI+: 311 825 ESI+: 250 83 5 ESI+: 195 84 5 ESI+: 282 85 5 ESI+: 275 86 5 ESI+: 22487 5 ESI+: 310 88 5 ESI+: 359 89 5 ESI+: 332 90 5 ESI+: 307 91 5 ESI+:315 92 5 ESI+: 344 93 5 ESI+: 382 94 5 ESI+: 306 95 5 ESI+: 317 96 5ESI+: 314 97 5 ESI+: 314 98 5 ESI+: 302 99 5 ESI+: 211 100 5 ESI+: 329101 5 ESI+: 278 102 5 ESI+: 277 103 5 ESI+: 336/338 104 5 ESI+: 277 1055 ESI+: 323 106 5 ESI+: 273 107 5 ESI+: 321 108 5 ESI+: 315 109 5 ESI+:213 110 5 ESI+: 354 111 5 ESI+: 278 112 5 ESI+: 325 113 5 ESI+: 353 1145 ESI+: 368

TABLE 40 Ex Syn Data 115 5 ESI+: 244 116 5 ESI+: 319 117 5 ESI+: 308 1185 ESI+: 267 119 5 ESI+: 314 120 5 ESI+: 292 121 1 NMR1: 0.90 (s, 9H),1.39-1.48 (m, 2H), 2.37-2.44 (m, 2H), 6.53 (s, 1H), 10.66 (brs, 1H),12.63 (s, 1H) ESI+: 197 122 5 ESI+: 305 123 5 ESI+: 327 124 5 ESI+: 306125 5 ESI+: 280 126 5 ESI+: 305 127 5 ESI+: 322 128 5 ESI+: 264 129 5ESI+: 329 130 5 ESI+: 329 131 5 ESI+: 317 132 5 ESI+: 317 133 5 ESI+:305 134 5 ESI+: 368 135 5 ESI+: 301 136 5 ESI+: 329 137 5 ESI+: 309 1385 ESI+: 319 139 5 ESI+: 278 140 5 ESI+: 355 141 5 ESI+: 329 142 5 ESI+:372 143 5 ESI+: 364 144 5 ESI+: 302 145 5 ESI+: 318 146 5 ESI+: 359 1475 ESI+: 292 148 5 ESI+: 345 149 5 ESI+: 340 150 5 ESI+: 261 151 5 ESI+:355 152 5 ESI+: 346

TABLE 41 Ex Syn Data 153 5 ESI+: 306 154 5 ESI+: 329 155 5 ESI+: 308 1565 ESI+: 337 157 5 ESI+: 310 158 5 ESI+: 317 159 5 ESI+: 258 160 5 ESI+:322 161 5 ESI+: 266 162 5 ESI+: 224 163 5 ESI+: 320 164 5 ESI+: 321 1655 ESI+: 291 166 5 ESI+: 244 167 5 ESI+: 319/321 168 5 ESI+: 251 169 5ESI+: 299 170 5 ESI+: 169 171 5 ESI+: 211 172 5 ESI+: 211 173 5 ESI+:209 174 5 ESI+: 223 175 5 ESI+: 225 176 5 ESI+: 238 177 5 ESI+: 296 1785 ESI+: 291 179 5 ESI+: 237 180 5 ESI+: 252 181 5 ESI+: 266 182 5 ESI+:312/314 183 5 ESI+: 302/304/306 184 5 ESI+: 302/304/306 185 5 ESI+: 276186 5 ESI+: 248 187 5 ESI+: 252 188 5 ESI+: 291 189 5 ESI+: 264 190 5ESI+: 262 191 5 ESI+: 262 192 5 ESI+: 290

TABLE 42 Ex Syn Data 193 5 ESI+: 262 194 5 ESI+: 302 195 5 ESI+: 252 1965 ESI+: 302/304/306 197 5 ESI+: 302/304/306 198 5 ESI+: 282/284 199 5ESI+: 286/288 200 5 ESI+: 292 201 5 ESI+: 280 202 5 ESI+: 304 203 5ESI+: 396/398 204 5 ESI+: 270 205 5 ESI+: 292 206 5 ESI+: 312/314 207 5ESI+: 282 208 5 ESI+: 318 209 5 ESI+: 262 210 5 ESI+: 264 211 5 ESI+:278 212 1 NMR1: 2.69-2.78 (m, 2H), 2.82-2.91 (m, 2H), 6.58 (s, 1H),7.04-7.13 (m, 2H), 7.20-7.28 (m, 2H), 10.71 (brs, 1H), 12.67 (s, 1H)ESI+: 235 213 11 ESI+: 269 214 11 ESI+: 269 215 11 ESI+: 283 216 11ESI+: 295 217 11 ESI+: 275 218 11 ESI+: 292 219 11 ESI+: 281 220 11ESI+: 295 221 11 ESI+: 267 222 11 ESI+: 311 223 11 ESI+: 325 224 11ESI+: 359 225 11 ESI+: 337 226 11 ESI+: 357

TABLE 43 Ex Syn Data 227 11 ESI+: 371 228 11 ESI+: 373 229 1 NMR1: 0.87(t, J = 7.6 Hz, 3H), 1.56 (qt J = 7.6, 7.6 Hz, 2H), 2.38-2.44 (m, 2H),6.53 (s, 1H), 10.67 (brs, 1H), 12.64 (s, 1H) ESI+: 155 230 3 NMR1: 5.09(s, 2H), 6.78 (s, 1H), 7.04-7.06 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.44 (m, 1H), 7.49-7.56(m, 3H), 7.87-7.90 (m, 1H), 8.15-8.17 (m, 1H), 12.93 (brs, 1H) ESI+: 269231 3 NMR1: 4.82 (s, 2H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 6.98-7.02 (m, 2H), 7.10-7.14 (m,2H), 12.69 (s, 1H) ESI+: 237 232 3 NMR1: 4.90 (s, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H),6.76-6.92 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.35 (m, 1H), 12.91 (s, 1H) ESI+: 237 233 3NMR1: 2.27 (s, 3H), 4.86 (s, 2H), 6.68 (s, 1H), 6.76-6.82 (m, 3H),7.14-7.18 (m, 1H), 11.05 (brs, 1H), 12.94 (s, 1H) ESI+: 233 234 3 NMR1:3.76 (s, 3H), 4.85 (s, 2H), 6.70 (s, 1H), 6.84-7.02 (m, 4H), 12.92 (s,1H) ESI+: 249 235 3 NMR1: 3.72 (s, 3H), 4.87 (s, 2H), 6.53-6.59 (m, 3H),6.69 (s, 1H), 7.16-7.21 (m, 1H), 12.96 (s, 1H) ESI+: 249 236 1 NMR1:1.11-1.41 (m, 5H), 1.61-1.84 (m, 5H), 2.32-2.45 (m, 1H), 6.57 (s, 1H),10.64 (brs, 1H), 12.65 (s, 1H) ESI+: 195 237 3 NMR1: 4.88 (s, 2H), 6.68(s, 1H), 6.93-7.01 (m, 3H), 7.27-7.32 (m, 2H), 12.93 (s, 1H) ESI+: 219238 3 ESI−: 271 239 3 ESI+: 289

TABLE 44 Ex Syn Data 240 3 NMR1: 2.15 (s, 3H), 4.87 (s, 2H), 6.68 (s,1H), 6.82-6.86 (m, 1H), 6.94-6.96 (m, 1H), 7.10-7.14 (m, 2H), 12.91 (s,1H) ESI+: 233 241 3 ESI+: 233 242 3 NMR1: 4.92 (s, 2H), 6.69 (s, 1H),7.05-7.08 (m, 2H), 7.27-7.31 (m, 1H), 7.38-7.43 (m, 2H), 7.57-7.59 (m,4H), 12.94 (s, 1H) ESI+: 295 243 3 NMR1: 4.95 (s, 2H), 6.60 (s, 1H),7.15-7.17 (m, 2H), 7.63-7.66 (m, 2H), 11.24 (br, 1H), 12.83 (s, 1H)ESI+: 287 244 3 NMR1: 4.95 (s, 2H), 6.62 (s, 1H), 7.28-7.31 (m, 3H),7.49-7.53 (m, 1H), 11.19 (br, 1H), 12.85 (s, 1H) ESI+: 287 245 3 NMR1:5.04 (s, 2H), 6.63 (s, 1H), 7.09-7.13 (m, 1H), 7.29-7.32 (m, 1H),7.59-7.64 (m, 2H), 11.12 (brs, 1H), 12.97 (s, 1H) ESI+: 287 246 3 NMR1:4.93, (s, 2H), 6.69 (s, 1H), 6.97-7.03 (m, 1H), 7.20-7.32 (m, 2H), 11.09(s, 1H), 12.95 (s, 1H) ESI+: 255 247 3 NMR1: 4.92 (s, 2H), 6.67 (s, 1H),6.92-7.05 (m, 3H), 7.38-7.42 (m, 1H), 11.12 (s, 1H), 12.93 (s, 1H) ESI+:303 248 3 NMR1: 2.55 (s, 3H), 4.95 (s, 2H), 6.70 (s, 1H), 7.24-7.27 (m,1H), 7.42-7.56 (m, 3H), 11.08 (br, 1H), 12.97 (brs, 1H) ESI+: 261 249 3NMR1; 1.93-2.01 (m, 2H), 2.72-2.80 (m, 4H), 4.80 (s, 2H), 6.59 (s, 1H),6.70 (s, 1H), 6.84-6.85 (m, 1H), 7.06-7.09 (m, 1H), 11.14 (br, 1H),12.83 (s, 1H) ESI+: 259 250 3 NMR1; 3.16 (s, 3H), 5.02 (s, 2H), 6.68 (s,1H), 7.22-7.24 (m, 2H), 7.84-7.86 (m, 2H), 12.97 (s, 1H) ESI+: 297 251 3NMR1; 4.93 (s, 2H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 6.92-7.02 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.36 (m, 1H),7.40-7.49 (m, 5H), 12.89 (s, 1H) ESI+: 313

TABLE 45 Ex Syn Data 252 3 NMR1; 3.77 (s, 3H), 4.81 (s, 2H), 6.34 (brs,1H), 6.91-6.94 (m, 1H), 7.21 (s, 1H), 7.41-7.43 (m, 1H), 8.07 (s, 1H),12.50 (brs, 1H) ESI+: 273 253 3 NMR1; 2.36 (s, 3H), 4.91 (s, 2H), 6.68(s, 1H), 7.14-7.17 (m, 1H), 7.31-7.33 (m, 1H), 8.16-8.17 (m, 1H), 12.94(s, 1H) ESI+: 234 254 2 NMR1; 2.71-2.74 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.89 (m, 2H), 6.52(s, 1H), 7.23 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.31 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 10.73 (brs,1H), 12.63 (s, 1H) ESI+: 251/253

TABLE 46 No Str 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

TABLE 47 No Str 15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

TABLE 48 No Str 28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

TABLE 49 No Str 41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

TABLE 50 No Str 53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

TABLE 51 No Str 66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

TABLE 52 No Str 79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

TABLE 53 No Str 92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

TABLE 54 No Str 105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

TABLE 55 No Str 118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

TABLE 56 No Str 134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

TABLE 57 No Str 151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof has a DAAO inhibitoryaction and can be used, for example, as a prophylaxis and/or therapeuticagent for schizophrenia or neuropathic pain.

1. An agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a disease associatedwith DAAO, comprising a compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof asan active ingredient:

wherein X is CR², Y is N, Z is CH, R¹ is chosen from H, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,-lower alkylene-OR³, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl,-L¹⁻-R⁴ or -L²-N(—R⁵)R⁶, R² is chosen from lower alkyl, halogen or-lower alkylene-aryl, R³ is chosen from H or lower alkyl, L¹ is chosenfrom -lower alkylene-, -lower alkenylene-, -lower alkylene-O—, -loweralkylene-S(O)_(m)— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, L² is chosen from -loweralkylene-, -lower alkylene-S(O)₂— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, R⁴ is chosenfrom unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted orsubstituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted nonaromatic heterocycleor unsubstituted or substituted aromatic heterocycle, R⁵ is chosen fromH, lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl or unsubstitutedor substituted aryl, R⁶ is chosen from lower alkyl, -L²¹-(unsubstitutedor substituted cycloalkyl), -L²¹-(unsubstituted or substituted aryl),-L²¹-(unsubstituted or substituted nonaromatic heterocycle),-L²¹-(optionally unsubstituted or substituted aromatic heterocycle),-lower alkylene-OR⁷ or -lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂, R⁷ is chosen from H orlower alkyl, R⁸ are the same or different and each is lower alkyl, L²¹is chosen from a bond or -lower alkylene-, and m is chosen from aninteger of 0 to
 2. 2. A compound of the formula (I) or a salt thereof:

wherein X is CR², Y is N, Z is CH, R¹ is chosen from H, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,-lower alkylene-OR³, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl,-L¹-R⁴ or -L²-N(—R⁵)R⁶, R² is chosen from H, lower alkyl, halogen or-lower alkylene-aryl, R³ is chosen from H or lower alkyl, L¹ is chosenfrom -lower alkylene-, -lower alkenylene-, -lower alkylene-O—, -loweralkylene-S(O)_(m)— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, L² is chosen from -loweralkylene-, -lower alkylene-S(O)₂— or -lower alkylene-C(O)—, R⁴ is chosenfrom unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted orsubstituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted nonaromatic heterocycleor unsubstituted or substituted aromatic heterocycle, R⁵ is chosen fromH, lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl or unsubstitutedor substituted aryl, R⁶ is chosen from lower alkyl, -L²¹-(unsubstitutedor substituted cycloalkyl), -L²¹-(unsubstituted or substituted aryl),-L²¹-(unsubstituted or substituted nonaromatic heterocycle),-L²¹-(unsubstituted or substituted aromatic heterocycle), -loweralkylene-OR⁷ or -lower alkylene-N(R⁸)₂, R⁷ is chosen from H or loweralkyl, R⁸ are the same or different and each is lower alkyl, L²¹ ischosen from a bond or -lower alkylene-, and m is chosen from an integerof 0 to 2, provided: N and Z is CH, then R¹ is a group other than achloro group.
 3. The compound according to claim 2, wherein R¹ is-L¹-R⁴.
 4. The compound according to claim 2, wherein R¹ is -L¹-R⁴ andL¹ is lower alkylene, and R⁴ is chosen from unsubstituted or substitutedaryl or unsubstituted or substituted aromatic heterocycle.
 5. Thecompound according to claim 2, wherein R¹ is H.
 6. The compoundaccording to claim 2, wherein R¹ is halogen.
 7. The compound accordingto claim 2, wherein R² is -lower alkylene-aryl.
 8. The compoundaccording to claim 2, wherein R² is halogen.
 9. The compound accordingto claim 2, wherein R² is lower alkyl.
 10. The compound according toclaim 2, which is chosen from:6-bromo-5-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one;5-chloro-3-hydroxy-6-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one;3-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-(2-phenylethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one;5,6-dibromo-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one;5-bromo-6-chloro-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one;6-bromo-3-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-one; and5-chloro-3-hydroxy-6-(2-phenylethyl)pyridin-2(1H)-one.
 11. Apharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 2,and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 12. The pharmaceuticalcomposition according to claim 11, which is for the prophylaxis ortreatment of a disease associated with DAAO. 13.-15. (canceled)
 16. Amethod for the prophylaxis or treatment of a disease associated withDAAO, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effectiveamount of the compound according to claim
 2. 17. The method according toclaim 16, wherein the disease associated with DAAO is schizophrenia orneuropathic pain.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein thesubject is a human subject.